SEDITION IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 8

SEDITION IN INDIA.

CONSPIRACY UNMASKED.

ENGINEERED IN AMERICA.

RINGLEADERS UNDER ARREST

Delhi, May 10.

An important prosecution under the Defence of India Act, which was recently passed, is in progress at Lahore. The prisoners are 82 persons, who, it is alleged, took part in a seditious conspiracy against the British Government. The conspiracy wan engineered by Indians who had returned from America. The origin of the conspiracy was found in a movement on the Pacific coast directed by one Sai Dyai.

In the hope that Indian administration would be weakened by the war, the emissaries returned to India in considerable numbers and endeavoured to stir up trouble mainly in the Punjaub and United Provinces. They sought to collect arms and explosives, circulato seditious literature, tamper with troops, and obtain funds by robberies.

A series of Dacoit murders has taken place, but, owing to the vigianco of the police, and the co-opera-tion of the people, seizures of bombs have been made, the plans detected, and the ringleaders arrested. Several of those implicated made a full confession of the plot, which failed at the very beginning. The plotters failed to win the sympathy of their own people in India. Though the majority were Sikhs, the Government had every assistance of the Sikh leaders, who keenly resented the discreditable proceedings. Attempts were made to persuade the Mahommedans to join the revolution.