INDIAN TERRORISM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16301, 7 April 1927, Page 4

INDIAN TERRORISM

CONSPIRACY WIDESPREAD. "ERA OF BLOODSHED." CALCUTTA, February 24. The Bengal Council to-night carried, by a majority of 45, a resolution demanding the release of all political prisoners, despite a grave statement on beha.lf of the Government showing that the terrorist conspiracy was still widespread. Mr. Moberley, speaking for the Government, declared emphatically that the situation in Bengal was not such that it was possible to release the leaders so that they could take their places again at the head of the* movement. The recruiting of an ol'ganisation was proceeding steadily, he addedj for its speedy revival in a very dangerous form under the old leadership. He denied the charge that the police omplloyevt agents provocateurs. He claimed that the detentions had dis- , organised a terrorist conspiracy of the ' greatest extent. After recalling recent discoveries of bombs and revolvers, which were outward signs that a conspiracy still existed, and was still widespread, Mr. Moberly read extracts from documents recently seized, to show the mentality of the terrorists. The first said, inter alia : • " The era, that is coming in is an era of bloodshed. That era is very terrible, and youi are the heroes of that age. Therefore, I say, prepare yourselves for that time. If freedom is ever achieved in India it will come through bloodshed alone. Terror must be instilled into the minds of the people. They have to be shown that Bengalis know how to die for their country and shed their blood for her; then the country will blaze up in such flames as none can extinguish."

Another extract was as follows : " We thought of murdering a few informers and active police officers, hut that is not our ultimate aim. Wo were preparing revolutionaries to take part in a general rising hy guerilla warfare. We conspired for simultaneous rising in nil districts, when the revolutionaries would attack the police lines, capture their guns, and bum the police stations and gaols. Secret organisations have been formed in every district. There is a central committee in Calcutta which guides the district organisations and.supplies them with hooks and arms.