The Kohat Findings —III

THE most most extraordinary conclusion arrived at by the Special Magistrate, and which is virtually endorsed by the Government of India, is that the authorities did all or very nearly all that could be expected of them in the circumstances. The former records the deliberate opinion that “reasonable measures were taken to aver the outbreak,” characterises as inaccurate and misleading the Hindu statement that the authorities did nothing to stop looting or burning, and finds justification for the order to the troops to stand by instead of actually stopping looting, incendiarism etc, in the following words:--“The authorities had to keep in mind a possible descent by the tribes and to retain a reserve to deal with such an eventuality should it occur. Had this happened, the Kohat riots might well have developed into a small frontier war. That it was averted is a tribute to the authorities, and a point that has not received sufficient publicity.” “While the Government of India,” says the latter, “have been able, in the light of after events to point out instances where a different course of action would have been wiser, they desire it to be clearly understand that the authorities faced a most difficult situation with coolness and courage. The loss of life and property in these riots was deplorably great, but the provocation that started the rioting was so grave, the retaliation so fierce and the whole environment so inflammable, that without coolness and courage on the part of the authorities, the loss might easily have been far greater. Credit is due to them for localising the trouble within Kohat and its environs and in particular for restraining the transfrontier tribesmen from descending upon Kohat.”