A FRONTIER INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 17, 13 February 1909, Page 3

A FRONTIER INCIDENT.

It is dillicult lor one who Ims no experience of the Indian frontier tho Wild Xorth-Wcst—to frame any adequate conception of the terror in which a particularly desperate border rullian and his followers hold the. countryside (says the Standard of Umpire). Of'surh stnll' was Sohrab, lately bandit and outlaw on the North-West frontier—now no more. And the story of some of bis exploits and his capture is worth tolling. Sohrab was not an ordinary outlaw, Together with a few Wiutris lie made « successful raid on a village onlv four miles distant from Dora Ismail' Kha-i last December, and got clear awnv with 8I),IHII) ni]Mes in hard cash. Strong contingonls of cavalry and infantry were drafted to capture him and his companions, but lie managed to elude pursuit and to make many more raids, the last one yielding plunder to the amount of 00,(100 rupees, lie came to be the terror of the countryside, and from Dera Ismail Khan to Kulachi. the scene of his last exploit, it is said the road was never /safe. So keen was the anxiety of the Government that it offered a reward of -'lino rupees for his capture. One evening towards tho end of September a man came punting on horseback and informed the authorities that Sohrab was engaged in looting his house. Parties set out in immediate pursuit, and came, up with the outlaw at night. Cornered and unmounted, Sohrab made a desperate dash for liberty, nevertheless. 'Bide In hand, be rushed his pursuers, and broke through the line. A Border Sepoy who challenged him and barred bis path was shot through both shoulders, but at the same moment a Ilnvildar near by took chance aim in the darkness atid not his man. Xo one knew then that .Sohrab had boon shot, but 111 the morning they found hiin, dead, leaning by the side of a tree. This is n typical incident of the frontier. Nohi'nb Mini his kind are those who make the life of the frontier ollicer one succession of alarms.