THE MOPLAH RISING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 7

THE MOPLAH RISING.

_e> BACK OF REVOLT BROKEN. | REBELS DRIVEN TO HILLS. I A. and N.Z.' DELHI, Dec. 2. It is officially reported that the troops have made excellent progress in the Kottakkal, Manaarghat, and' Calient areas of the Moplah rebellion in Malabar. The enemy has been broken up, and many surrenders are reported. Half the trouble is now caused by local criminals. A small detachment of Gurkhas killed four and: wounded three rebels, and the police captured 13 at Tanur. The large rebel concentration rumoured lately has' not materialised. The rebels have fled to the hills or passed through the line. Spasmodic murders and looting do not affect the main issue, but are increasing alarm and preventing the restoration of public confidence. . . It was officially stated to-day that special police killed 20 rebels. The Suffolk Regiment is establishing signal stations. The rebels are saiid to be moving from east to west, their reported object being to say prayers at. Manupuran prior to making a final stand. ConfirmationiofHhis ' report is awaited. SUFFOCATED PRISONERS. DOCTORS CONDEMN VAN. GRUESOME DETAILS OP TRAGEDY. Renter. DELHI. Dec 2. Further evidence regarding the asphyxiation of Moplah prisoners when on a train journey from Tiimr to Podanur revealed gruesome and somewhat conflicting ' details. Reuter's correspondent at Coimbatore says that'Parakkal Ismail, one of the prisoners examined by the inquiry committee, said that the prisoners were fed and given plenty of water at Tirur. The van was very crowded and the prisoners were unable to sit properly. The first time the train stopped all asked for water, but received no answer. The next time the prisoners called out that many were fainting, and would die, and it would be enough if the doors were opened. Tho witness fainted soon after and remembered nothing more till called to attention at Coimbatore. Witness said the prisoners were sweating profusely and could' not breathe. Some were so thirsty that they drank their perspiration, squeezing it from their clothes. Some unsuccessfully tried to remove the gauze from the openings in the sides of the van. All were obliged >to stand, but they soon began to fall down. They then lay on top of each other. He also said that they fought each other. Another prisoner declared that on one occasion a voico outside told the prisoners that if they persisted in quarelling they would be shot. A third prisoner deposed that the van was not very crowded, but there was no air. He tried to get air by putting his mouth neir an opening at the bottom of the door.. Another witness related how a prisoner sat with his dying father's head in his lap, crying out, " You may tie us up, but let us have air." A further allegation was that people outside, who were believed to be Hindus, jeered at the prisoners, saying. " Aren't you the Khilafat people with guns and swords ? Can't you take water by force!" The senior medical officer for Malabar stated that the surviving prisoners received every attention when proceeding to Coimbatore. He also expressed the opinion that the prisoners were asphyxiated because there were too many in the van, both for air and for space. Even with tho ventilating' gauze removed he was not sure if the van was fit for conveying human beings. . The district medical officer denied that any of the bodies were mangled, but expressed the opinion that he would not have recommended the carrying of 100 prisoners in such a van. i , i