57
It is my opinion
Dhan
i. that No.12575 Rifleman/Singh carried out his orders in firing on the internee attempting to escape, having first given adequate warning, and that no blame can be attached to
him;
ii. that No.12025 Rifleman Rattan Singh was justified in bayonetting the internee who attempted to wrest his rifle from him;
iii. that Subadar Puran Chand, the Camp Commandant at the time, was justified in ordering his men to fix bayonets when quelling the disturbance subsequent to the shooting of the internee, and that the steps he took to deal with the situation were correct.
2.
I consider that immediate steps should be taken to heighten the fence surrounding the camp. This was recommended to the Police authorities in my No. I.S/66 of 28th December. I feel that a fence of more formidable appearance would discourage attempts to escape.
3.
The fact that repeated attempts to escape have been made, in spite of adequate warnings to the internees on the
part of the Police, appears to me to point to the fact that
the internees did not realise that the sentries would fire
for effect.
Hong Kong.
3rd January, 1939.
sd. J.H.L. Hindmarsh.
Lieutenant-Colonel. Commandant, 1st Kumaon Rifles.
(Certified true copy).
1
Kowloon
Hong Kong
3rd January, 1939.
sd. R.J.F.A. Lawder
Captain.
Adjutant, 1st Kumaon Rifles.