Province
Date
Place of Disturbance. |
Brief description. |
United Provinces
7th January 1921
Rae Berilli Distt. | Agrarian disturbances in Rae Bareilly and Fyzabad
Districts accompanied by extensive looting. |
United Provinces
24th January 1921
... | District Rae Barielly. Police party besieged in a
house after one of their number was killed. |
Punjab
26th January 1921
Tarn. | Serious riot at Tarn Taran.
Killed 3
Wounded 14
|
Bombay
9th January 1921
Kolaba Distt. | A riot occurred between two parties of Muhammadans in
the Kolaba district during the course of a flag procession. The
sub-Inspector of Police
who was in charge lost his head and fired in the air.
No casualities. |
United Provinces
29th January 1921
Goshaingunj Railway
Station, Fyzabad Distt. | A large crowd held up a train with the object of
rescuing a man arrested for his complicity in the agrarian riots. The
police who were attacked, fired wounding one man, several others were
hit with stray pellets.
One rioter wounded. |
Bengal
4th-5th February 1921
Naihati. | An affray took place between a Muhammadan and a Gurkha
Durwan of a Jute Mill resulting in a General fracas between Muhammadan
coolies of the Mill and Gurkha durwans in which a few Gurkhas were
killed and other injured. It was considered doubtful whether there was
any political significance. |
Bihar and Orissa
7th February 1921
Giridih. | Strikes at the East India Railway Colliery, Giridih,
District Hazaribagh, Bihar and Orissa. |
United Provinces
10th February 1921
... | Strike on the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway, Punjab Mail
stoned and Magistrate assaulted. |
Bengal
18th February 1921
Calcutta. | Riot in Kalighat section of Calcutta Tramway by strikers. |
Bihar and Orissa
18th February 1921
Saran. | District Sarat, Bihar and Orissa. Police while
investigating complaint against locally self-constituted panchayet were
assaulted. |
Punjab
19th-20th February 1921
Nankana. | Nankana Sahib affair in Punjab. |
Central Provinces
21st-25th February 1921
Nagpur. | Disturbances of Nagpur arising out of temperance
campaign of non-co-operators. |
Bengal
March 1921
Lillooah. | Strike accompanied by rioting at Lillooah workshops. |
Bombay
March 1921
Karachi. | Hartal at Karachi accompanied by violence of mob. |
Central Province
March 1921
Nagpur. | Rioting during excise sales. Five liquor shops Cracked.
Mob fired on by police, one policeman killed and 15 injured, 9 rioters
killed and 14 wounded. |
United Provinces
20th and 21st March 1921
Karhaiya,
Rae Barelli
District. | In the course of the riots which took place on the
20th March, the police were compelled to fire on two occasions. The
riot started by the arrest of two men who had been prohibited from
speaking and who were haranguing the crowd.
Killed 4
Wounded 12
|
Assam
21st March 1921
... | Halem Tea Estate, Assam. Strike by tea garden labourers
who assaulted officials of tea garden. |
Bengal
24th March 1921
Rajshahi. | Outbreak in Rajshahi Jail in Bengal. |
Madras
3rd April 1921
Kumbakonam. | Riots at Kumbakonam due to labour strikes. |
Punjab
6th April 1921
Kamalia. | Riot at Kamalia, Montgomery District, Punjab, owing
to dispute over Prem Sati Gurdwara. |
Bengal
15th April 1921
Ghusuri. | Ghusuri Jute Mill Bengal. Riot accompanied by violence;
manager seriously injured. |
Bombay
19th April 1921
Shikarpur. | Riot at Shikarpur, Bombay, when non-co-operators
interfered with yearly meeting of Pritman Dharma Sabha. |
Bihar and Orissa
25th April 1921
Giridih. | Owing to trial of a non-co-operation volunteer, 10,000
people at Giridih, District Hazaribagh, endeavoured to storm sub-jail,
looted police station and burnt records. |
Bombay
25th April 1921
Malegaon. | Disturbances at Malegaon, Bombay, arising out of trial
of Khilafat Volunteers. Sub-Inspector of Police and four constables
killed. |
Madras
26th April 1921
Ottapalam. | Disturbance at Ottapalam, Madras; fight between
Reserve Police and khilafat volunteers. |
Bihar and Orissa
May 1921
Sitamarhi. | S.D.O. Sitamarhi, (District Muzuffarpur, Bihar and
Orissa) compelled to leave Mela; public intimidated. |
Bengal
11th May 1921
Kanchrapara. | Riot in Kanchrapara workshops, Eastern Bengal State
Railway. Several thousands took part in riot caused by strikers of
Eastern Bengal State Railway workshops, Kanchrapara. |
Bengal
16th May 1921
Kaloj Valley. | Riot accompanied with violence occurred at Kaloj
Valley Tea Estate, Darjeeling District. |
Assam
19th-20th 1921
Chandpur. | Trouble at Chandpur in connection with tea garden
labourers leaving Assam. |
United Provinces
22nd May 1921
Mahagaon. | Serious affray in Mahagaon, District Allahabad. |
Bombay
26th June 1921
Bombay. | Disturbances at Tata Mills Limited, Dadar, Bombay. |
Bombay
1st July 1921
Dharwar. | Riots at Dharwar, Bombay, arising from liquor shop
picketing. |
Madras
July 1921
Madras. | Strikes in Buckingham and Karnatic Mills, Madras,
began accompanied by wide-spread arson. |
United Provinces
5th July 1921
Aligarh. | Riot at Aligarh arising out of trial of a non-co-operators. |
United Provinces
13th July 1921
Bariha. | Serious riot at Bariha village, District Lucknow. |
Bengal
July 1921
Chittagong. | Disturbances and disorders occurred in Bengal, both in
Calcutta and at Chittagong, during trial of non-co-operators. |
Bombay
21st July 1921
Matiari. | Disturbances at Matiari arising out of interference
by non-co-operators with an Aman Sabha meeting. |
Bombay
July 1921
Karachi. | Picketing of liquor shops at Karachi caused cases of
obstruction and assault; one leading agitator rescued by crowd from
police; when convicted mob threw stones at Police and passers by;
various Europeans and Indians were hurt. |
Bengal
1st August 1921
Jamalpur. | Riot at Jamalpur workshops of the East Indian Railway
resulting from hartal. |
Bombay
1st August 1921
Karachi. | Two British soldiers had an altercation with a
Musalman in a hotel and when they came out were assaulted by a mob. One
soldier was severely injured. The affray was not due to political
feelings. |
Bombay
17th August 1921
Bombay. | Some 7,300 employees of the Great Indian Peninsula
Railway Workshops at Parel demanded increased
wages struck work. They stoned the time-keeper's
office and afterwards set it on fire together with
the records; the office of the workshops' Manager
was also wrecked. Some members of the Auxiliary
Force who were employed in the Works succeeded
in quelling the riot and dispersing the mob. |
| 22nd August 1921. | One man was wounded in the thigh with a bayonet. |
Do.
25th August 1921
... | Strikes in the Jacob and E. D. Sassoon Mills. This
terminated on 8th and 12th September. |
United Provinces
September 1921
Kailana, Chakrata U. P. | There was an affray between police and British
soldiers. A Sub-Inspector and a British officer were killed. All the
British soldiers and officers were tried and were acquitted. |
Madras City
5th October 1921
... | A serious riot occurred between the Hindus and the
Anti-Dravidas which necessitated the opening of fire by the police. The
Anti-Dravidas were responsible for insulting a Muhammadan funeral
procession, and attacking a Hindu procession. |
Beneres
October 1921
... | An attempt made by a sub-inspector to search a
cloth-shop in the village whereupon a disturbance arose and he ordered
his escort to fire in the air. The Ahirs concerned seized the
opportunity to attack police whilst their guns were empty. The police
fled, the sub-inspector as far as Meerut. A second sub-inspector came
to the rescue. A melee ensued in which a constable was killed by a
lathi blow; two villagers were wounded by gun-shot wounds. |
Darrang District, Assam
14th October 1921
... | Strike of tea garden coolies. The European Managers as
well as the Superintendent of Police were assaulted and some of the
Indian members of the garden staff were injured. Fifty-two arrests were
made. |
Ahmedabad
26th October 1921
Bombay. | Thirty one out of 47 mills closed down demanding
higher wages; but this soon ended. |
Bengal
26th October 1921
Chitagong. | The conviction of Mr. J N. Gupta on a charge of
picketing led to a slight disturbance on his way to the Jail. A crowd
gathered and assaulted the Gurkha Guard who dispersed them and
assaulted butts of their rifles. |
Bengal
24th October 1921
Calcutta. | Two persons wearing Khilafat badges were arrested.
They resisted the Police. A crowd quickly gathered. A number of arrests
were made the men being conducted to the police station amidst a shower
of brickbats. |
Bengal
25th October 1921
Calcutta. | Strike of tramway employees. |
Bihar and Orissa
October 1921
Champaran. | Serious trouble occurred at Bagaha Police Station,
West Champaran, the Chatawar Factory was burnt down and three persons
were killed. |
Punjab
30th October 1921
Lahore. | On the afternoon of the 30th October 1921 a mob of
between 150 and 200 convicts made a determined and evidently a
preconcerted attempt to break out of the Lahore Central Jail. They
overpowered the guard of the inner gate and forced their way to the
outer gate where they succeeded in breaking the lock of the wicket.
The Jail officials had to fire at this point and succeed in driving
back the convicts. Three of the convicts were killed and thirty-three
wounded. |
Bengal
4th November 1921
Howrah. | Processions were formed at night after a Khilafat
meeting had been held on the Howrah maidan. One of these attacked the
police on duty and forced them
to retire on the thana. Armed police were requisitioned from Sibpore
and, though attacked en route, succeeded in relieving the thana.
During the disturbances some shots were fired.
One constable was killed and several wounded. Five rioters were killed. |
Bengal
November 1921
Bogra. | An attempt was made to withhold food supplies from the
Settlement Officer, Mr. McPherson who was assaulted when he visited the
hat for the purpose. |
Bengal
4th November 1921
Calcutta. | A serious riot occurred in Howrah Town after a
Khilafat meeting when processions were formed. One of these attacked
the Police who retired to the thana. Armed police were requisitioned
from Sibpore and were attacked en route. They, however,
succeeded in relieving the thana. Some shots were fired by the Police
and two rifles were lost. One constable
was killed and several were wounded and whilst the Assistant Magistrate
was injured on the head. |
Bengal
14th November 1921
Calcutta. | An attempt was made to renew the tramway service in
Shambazar with the result that a serious disturbance occurred at the
Balgachia Depot. The police force being insufficient, the military were
summoned but before this the Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr.
Bartley was seriously assaulted and about 20 police injured and so were
several rioters. |
Coorg
17th November 1921
Bangalore. | Following on arrest of six Mahomedans on charge of
unlawful assembly a mob numbering thousands surrounded Broadway Police
station, prevented removal of prisoners who had refused bail to
judicial lock-up in Bangalore Central Jail. As Police force was
inadequate, military aid was requisitioned. As detachment of military
reached Police station, determined rush was made on rear. In the melee
four or five shots were fired. Officer Commanding was individually
attacked by man with a stick. There was heavy stone throwing.
Two rioters were killed and six injured; 16 men of the Dorset Regiment
were injured. |
Burma
17th November 1921
Rangoon. | Serious riot occurred on 13th night due to attempt by
large number of Burmese monks to obtain free entrance to the Pwes in
Shwedagon Pagoda during pagoda festival.
Not known. One unknown Burman killed. Among the police there were three
serious and many minor casualties. |
Bombay
17th-20th November 1921
Bombay. | People returning from seeing the arrival of the Prince
were molested. On 18th rioting became general. Europeans and Parsis
were attacked and liquor shops, etc, were set on fire. Military aid was
requisitioned.
Two Europeans, one American and two Parsis
were killed. Three Europeans and an unknown number of Parsis were
wounded. Eighty-three police were wounded. Of the rioters 53 were
killed and 298 wounded. Not all the deaths from gunshot wounds were due
to the police and military, as several dead and wounded men were found
in localities where the authorities had not opened fire. |
Madras
4th December 1921
Cannanore. | On the 4th December 1921, a number of Moplah-convicts
and under-trial prisoners in the Cannanore Central Jail, ultimately
numbering about 150, began rioting and attempted to break out of the
Jail. Breaking open a tool shed they armed themselves with chisels,
iron bars, etc., and attacked warders who attempted to obstruct their
escape. As the prisoners disregarded warnings, firing had to be ordered
to prevent their overpowering the guard by force of number.
Seven of the prisoners were killed outright and four wounded by the
firing. Two of these
subsequently died. One prisoner died of a fractured skull and nine were
wounded otherwise than by firing. |
Punjab
23rd December 1921
Fezorepur. | A determined attempt was made by a mob to rescue 12
non-co-operators who were arrested for having recourse to violence. The
police were forced to fire on the 24th a large number assembled to
renew the attack, but Alwar troops and Reserve Police dispersed them.
Three rioters were killed and several wounded. |
Bengal
28th December 1921
Rungpur. | Owing to disturbed state of locality, thirty-two armed
Police were sent to Nilphamari. A halt was made in the bazar during a
route march, and an altercation took place between a policeman and a
servant of a local gentleman. A crowd speedily collected and began
throwing missiles. March was continued followed
by crowd who became increasingly menacing and broke through ranks of
police. Some shots fired in the air.
Eight policemen were injured. Eight of public were also injured. |
United Provinces
29th December 1921
Bareilly. | On the 30th December 21, 32 inmates of Bareilly
Juvenile Jail refused to work on the grounds that a certain political
prisoner had been removed from their midst. (He had been sent to
hospital in consequence of illness.) Owing to influence of political
prisoners the youths, who numbered about 190, were completely out of
hand. They broke open almirahs, took out tools, broke open locks and
gates and attempted to scale walls. It was necessary to call up the
armed guard and to order firing. Sixteen shots were fired, several of
them in the air. None of the gunshot wounds are serious, an inquiry by
District Magistrate shows that no unnecessary violence was used. (This
account is taken from a communique published in the Press, as no
official report has been received from the United Provinces Government.)
Eight of the prisoners were injured by gunshots mostly in the legs, and
nine with batons. |
Madras
13th January 1922
Madras. | On the occasion of the arrival of His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales in Madras there were disturbances in Madras City.
An official report has not yet been received, but from accounts in the
Press it appears that the excesses of the mob were such that it was
necessary to call out the military and to resort to firing.
According to Press accounts, five or six rioters were killed. Other
casualities not known. |
Burma
15th January 1922
Hokyobo Kwin, near Mada
village, Thingangyan. | A party of police were despatched to prevent a buffalo
fight. They were attacked on arrival by a crowd of between three
hundred and five hundred. The police made six arrests but the crowd
attacked them with sticks, stones and bottles and they had to let their
prisoners go and to retreat towards the police station. Later the
villagers again attacked the police and one villager cut a head
constable with a dah on the fore-arm and attempted to seize his
carbine. Another head constable came to the rescue and in the scuffle
the carbine went off and the original assailant was shot in the
abdomen. As villagers continued to attack, a head constable fired twice
into the crowd. The police then made good their escape.
One villager killed, two severely wounded, seven slightly wounded; one
head constable cut on forearm, one head constable incised wound on
head, two constables slight cuts about arms and several hit by missiles. |
Bengal
21st January 1922
Noakhali. | The Superintendent of police while touring in his car
was met with a shower of brick-bats and the S.D.O. was attacked by
about 200 men. |
Sub-division, Patna
Do.
Sirajgung. | A sub-inspector and 3 constables attempted to arrest
three volunteers who were picketing some liquor shops. A crowd gathered
and succeeded in separating and beating the constables. The
sub-inspector fled. The
mob then went in search of the excise sub-inspector and having failed
to find him, they looted the ganja and liquor shop. In the course of
this incident one rifle was lost by the police.
Several instances of vigorous picketing occurred in this neighbourhood
through which the D.M. and Superintendent of Police decided to have a
route march. They arrived at Salangahat with two head constables and 23
constables of armed police. A number of volunteers had collected here
and as the Deputy Magistrate received complaints of interference
several were arrested. A crowd of about 2,000 then gathered and pelted
the police. Every effort was made to disperse the crowd. Eventually
after the Deputy Superintendent of Police had been hit with a lathi the
Magistrate ordered fire to be opened first with buckshot, and when this
proved unavailing, with ball. The crowd then dispersed leaving 4 dead
and 6 wounded. |
Dacca District
23rd January 1922. | Certain bad characters attacked the police in the
course of effecting some arrests; the latter fired killing one
volunteer. |
Titagarh Jute Mills
26th January 1922. | Three mill hands were wanted in connection with an
assault on the Manager and Assistant Manager. Two arrests were made
which resulted in the collection of a threatening crowd who hemmed in
the police against the wall of the mill. After failing to get in touch
with the Sub Divisional Magistrate over the telephone the Deputy
Superintendent ordered first one and then several of his men to fire.
One man was killed and another died subsequently. Altogether 40 were
reported to have been wounded, seven were sent to hospital. |
United Provinces
1st February 1922
Chauri Chaura. | An attempt to picket Muderwa bazar and prevent sales
of fish, drugs and liquor had been frustrated by police. Also an Ahir
(gowli caste) Government pensioner, who was a previous convict and had
become volunteer, was called up and threatened with loss of his
pension. The volunteers, determined on Saturday, that is the next bazar day,
to forcibly picket the bazar and overawe all opposition by their
numbers. The owner of the bazar is a loyal zaminder. The volunteers
proceeded to the bazar through the police station grounds. They
attacked the police station with kunkars and bricks. Eventually the
police fired in the air. The attack was renewed with greater force. The
mob rushed the police and they fled, some into the fields and some into
the buildings. A few police must have fired on the mob in earnest, but
it cannot be said whether it was before the rush or not. Buildings were
set on fire and all the force there except one constable and one
chaukidar, who escaped were brutally beaten to death and then burnt.
Also a little boy servant of the Sub Inspector was murdered. Resistance
to the mob was, I fear, badly organised. Then the mob tore up two rails
on the line, cut telegraph wires and scattered.
Twenty-one police and chaukidars killed & two rioters. |
Bihar and Orissa
3rd February 1922
Jamalpur. | Two Indian boys quarrelled in Railway Works, Jamalpur.
One as result being rendered unconscious. Action taken by Railway
authorities who dismissed two men did not satisfy popular demand for
removal of head maistry and on 10th an attempt was made to assault him
in office which was stoned. Works manager asked men in foundry either
to work or leave and as they refused to do either they were locked out
on 11th and stoned men arriving. Crowd at Jamalpur was dispersed but
many workmen came in by local trains from outside where trains were
held up and line tampered with. District Magistrate regards situation
as serious and fears sabotage. Military police arrived on evening 11th.
Trouble expected 13th when shops re-open. |
United Provinces
5th February 1922
Bareilly. | A defiant challenge was given this morning in the city
by about 5,000 volunteers who went out in procession despite
prohibition. The processions were dispersed flags seized and the bands
silenced. The volunteers and crowd rallied at the Town Hall. The police
seized the Congress office, tore down and burnt the flags. Later a
crowd which was reinforced by outside
help attempted to seize Town Hall and a charge by the police met with
vollies of brickbats. The situation with the number of men available
was impossible to hold.
By the District Magistrate's orders fire was opened by the police and
the attack repelled. The crowds remained hostile. With military
assistance the situation in now in hand. No firing was done by the
military. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police were
wounded in the face by brickbats. So far as known two are killed and
five wounded. The city is in the hands of the military. The District
Magistrate personally satisfied himself that the firing was absolutely
justified. Six men have been arrested including Abdul Wadeed, Trebeni
Sahai, Moti Singh Vakil and Damodar Sarup. All is quiet now.
One man killed on the spot, two since died in hospital five wounded now
in hospital including one woman. |
Assam
15th February 1922
Jamumamukh. | A riot occured at Jamumamukh on the 15th among
Khilafat Volunteers and Sylhet settlers. Convicted prisoners were
forcibly released and a mail train was held up by the removal of
sleepers and stoned. |
Do.
16th February 1922
Sylhet. | Commissioner, Surma Valley, who is in camp at
Kanaighat was dispersing forbidden meeting when a large body of
Lathials attacked the Police from behind. Armed Police turned to meet
them when in spite of warning they came right on Commissioner who was
hit on head by clods of earth and was narrowly missed with lathies. He
called on the police to fire; several rounds were fired, resulting in
about 8 casualties. As soon as firing stopped men swarmed back in great
numbers. Police force then returned to thana. One rifle was lost. It is
reported that reinforcements from Auxiliary Force stationed at Sylhet
and Karimganj are proceeding to spot.
Three police constables killed and three wounded. |
I say, Sir, from that time we have always avoided systematically and steadily any excessive severity vis a vis this movement. Later, there were a number of seditious speeches, including incitements to violence, particularly by Mr. Muhammad Ali and his brother, and Government were prepared to take action against them. What ensued is well known to the Members of this Assembly. There were meetings between Mr. Gandhi and His Excellency, and later Muhammad Ali and his brother offered to the public certain undertakings on which the Government withdrew the prosecutions against them. In a letter of June, 1921, addressed to Local Governments after this undertaking we indeed expressed some hope that it might be possible to reduce the number of prosecutions. We were anxious not to force the pace and although we always maintained our determination to keep order, we sought to avoid over-drastic action against the less dangerous or less violent adherents of the movement. At the same time we indicated to Local Governments that they were not to prosecute persons, the prosecution of whom might have great effect outside the province, without consulting the Government of India. In that letter, further, we invited Local Governments to give certain other convicted persons the same locus poenitentiae which had been given to Muhammad Ali and his brother. We have throughout avoided very carefully any suggestion, any action which might create the impression that we desire to interfere with a legitimate political movement. I defy any Member of this Assembly to say otherwise. We have indeed frequently been reproached with weakness on this account. I maintain that it was not weakness but patience. At the same time, we made every effort to meet the legitimate wishes of educated opinion in this country. I have no time to-day to recapitulate all we have done but I should like to mention such matters as the compensation to persons injured in the Punjab disorders, the further review of the Punjab sentences, the Committee on the Press Act, the results of which will be before this Assembly very shortly; again, the Committee on repressive measures and the Committee to inquire into racial distinctions in criminal proceedings. In fact, there was no question that came before us in which we did not honestly seek to meet moderate Members of the Assembly in order to consolidate the moderate party into a great working power in the country for good. What has been response of Mr. Gandhi and his followers? I maintain that it has been one steady stream of sedition, one steady attempt to subvert Government, one method of promoting this object being adopted after another. Sometimes it has been the boycott of piece goods in order to injure British trade, although Mr. Gandhi had himself I believe, at one time said that 'boycott' was a word that was entirely inconsistent with his principle of 'Ahimsa'. Later this movement took the form of attempts on the loyalty of our troops attempts on the police and there were constant incitements to disorder. These have resulted in serious outbreaks of violence in many parts of the country, the most important of which was the Moplah outbreak. Sir, there has recently been some attempt to minimise the cruelties committed by the Moplahs in Malabar. I refer in particular to the remarks of Mr. Abdul Bari and Mr. Husrat Mohani on this subject. Mr. Abdul Bari spoke of the pure spirit of the Moplahs and denied the veracity of the accounts of their atrocities. Mr. Husrat Mohani justifies them in the following words:
"At such a critical juncture when they are engaged in war against the English, their Hindu neighbours not only do not help them or observe neutrality but aid and assist the English in every possible way. They can indeed contend that, while they are fighting a defensive war for the sake of their religion and have left their houses, property and belongings, and taken refuge in the hills and jungles, it is unfair to characterise as plunder their commandeering of money, provisions and other necessities for their troops from the English and their supporters."
'When on the 26th he threatened other steps, the rebels forced their way into his house, dragged him out, along with his wife and two children carried them to the mosque and bathed all four and compelled them to recite verses from the Koran and dress as Moplahs. At mid-night they were led home and imprisoned. Next day the deponent's head was shaved and ten days later a certain notorious criminal (now in custody) forcibly circumcised the deponent. Three weeks later he and his family and other converts (some being Christians) escaped to Shoranur.'