Kitchin before the Enquiry Committee

THE most important witness before the Enquiry Committee on Friday morning was Mr. A.J. Kitchin, Commissioner, Lahore Division, during the disturbances. But before Mr. Kitchin was called, Mr. Howell, Superintendent of Police, C.I.D., was examined. He said altogether 108 cases were investigated by him, and admitted that no steps were taken or hard-and-fast rules made for keeping a limit to the cases. Mr. Kitchin, examined by Lord Hunter, said he went to Amritsar on the 10th in a motor car and found the situation very serious. There were no means of communication between the Kotwali and the Railway Station. At about eleven on the same night the troops train arrived. On the 11th, railway lines and telegraph wire had been cut and all sorts of rumours were afloat. He returned to Lahore on the 11th and reported the situation to the Lieutenant-Governor. Before he had arrived the decision for the arrest of the ring-leaders had already been made. On the 12th, he discussed the situation with General Dyer. On the 14th, he returned to Lahore and discussed with him the question of proclamation of Martial Law. Mr Kitchin thought that Martial Law was essential for the maintenance of security and order. Asked as to the chief causes of the unrest, Mr. Kitchin mentioned high prices, profiteering, income tax, seizure of wheat, political agitation, the Turkish question. Recruiting had nothing to do with the unrest as it was generally made from the villages and not the cities. The main reason for the declaration of Martial Law was that the situation was beyond their control and if they did not recover control the whole country might rise. Witness admitted that excessive zeal was shown in some cases during the Martial Law period. He thought that the disturbance was Anti-European.