killing I cannot hold from the number of casualties shown taking in conjunction with the number of rounds fired that there was any use of excessive force. The firing was controlled and was effective.
49. I have also satisfied myself from the registers of Medical College Hospitals that the casualties caused by the Police firing are as stated in the enquiry before me. It is true that the registers show that a large number of persons was affected by tear gas and also injured by lathis or by falling on the ground but that is not unexpected in view of the fact that the Police expended a large quantity of gas grenades and shells and made two determined lathi charges.
50. I cannot part with this enquiry without recording the astonishment with which I learned that the East Bengal Police Force is not equipped with steel helmets and has only a few ancient A.R.P. helmets to draw on. It seems incredible that a force required maintaining law and order should have to take up “action stations" wearing cloth caps and stand its ground under showers of brickbats, stones and similar weapons, and Dacca, in its present state of constructional activity, presents potential law-breakers with a veritable arsenal of ammunition. Had the Police force under Mr. Idris been properly equipped, it is more than probable there would never have been any occasion for this enquiry.
51. In conclusion I must find, on a consideration of the statements made in this enquiry, that-
(i) the firing by the police was necessary;
(ii) the force used by the police was justified in the circumstances of the case.
52. It is unfortunate that certain Associations and Organizations decided to boycott the enquiry as they disapproved of its limitations. Had they taken part in the proceedings, the official witnesses would undoubtedly have been subjected to a more knowledgeable and therefore more effective cross-examination while the presentation of the case against the Police would have been more effective because better informed. I have, however, gratefully to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Hamoodur Rahman and his scrupulous fairness in presenting the case of his clients, and the help afforded by Mr. Abdul Ghani in the face of great difficulties and serious handicaps. I must also place on record my appreciation of the sterling work of Mr. A.R. Osmani, B.L., Assistant Registrar, High Court, Dacca, who acted as my Secretary in the Enquiry; and of the ungrudging hard work of Mr. Mohabbat Ali, Senior Reporter of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly, who in addition to putting in long hours transcribing the statements of the witnesses along with his colleagues, (Messrs Md. Lutfur Rahman, Syed Bazlur Rahman. Abdus Samad, Abdul Mohaimen and Osman Ali) was solely responsible for typing this report, and of Mr. Din Mohammed of the Secretariat staff who assisted Mr. R.A. Osmany in the Secretarial work of the Enquiry.
- জাস্টিস ইলিস ১৯৫৪ সালের ২৫ শে অক্টোবর থেকে ২২শে ডিসেম্বর পর্যন্ত পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের গভর্নর ছিলেন। জাতিতে তিনি ছিলেন ইংরেজ।
