Dacoities in western Punjab

A NUMBER of questions were asked at the last meeting of the Punjab Legislative Council about the abnormal state of lawlessness in Western Punjab. These show the great anxiety felt by the people, the sufferers as well as sympathisers, and it is clear these feel that the seriousness of the position has not been adequately realised by Government. The Hon’ble Lala Kashi Ram asked for facts and figures so far they could be know at present regarding the value of property lost, the number of sufferers, the number of those killed and injured, of women dishonoured or kidnapped &c. There is no doubt that some idea of the facts must have been formed by local officers and it should have been possible to give this without binding oneself about their accuracy. These, if furnished, will enable the public to know the enormity of the suffering and the outrage. Such knowledge is necessary in order to devise better means of protection and prevention in future.