Governor of Bengal Keplies To Critics: The "Lesser of Two Evils"
The detention without trial of a number of suspects under Regulation 3v, 1818 (which permits detention without trial) is being widely criticized in the Indian press. These persons were arrested last month and were generally known to be pronounced Nationalists. It would appear that the suspicion is entertained that they are members of a revolutionary society.
The Government has issued a communique explaining "its position. After pointing out that two judges will investigate al! the cases it refers to the grave risk, if the detained persons are not kept in safe custody, to the lives of officials and the public, and also the danger to immature youths, In this connexion, says the communication, the Governor holds incontestable proof that boys have recently been misled in this way. The Governor in Council has therefore decided that the detention of a limited number of persons is the lesser of the two evils. Tt appeals to the public to regard the question in that light. trusting to his assurance that the regulation is being used only against persons who cannot be dealt with by- the ordinary process of law, about whom there is definite information of—their participation in a revolutionary conspiracy, and whose detention the safety of the State at present requires.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.