LOYAL MOPLAHS’ APPEAL
FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. The Moplah rebellion during the week covered by the latest Indian newspaper was the subject of various questions in the Indian Legislative Assembly. For instance, Mr. Rangachariar asked for particulars regarding the number of killed among the Moplahs, and what medical relief had been accorded to wounded rebels. He was informed that the wounded in the hands of the military were being treated medically exactly as the wounded among the Government forces. It was stated that the total number of killed among the Moplahs was not known beyond the 400 killed at Pokottur and ten at another centre. The Commander-in-chief, replying to a question regarding the causes that led to the withdrawal of the troops that used to be stationed at Malappuram, said that, owing to the reduction of British infantry in India from the pre-war strength, the garrison of the present Madras district was reduced by one British battalion. This necessitated the withdrawal of the British garrison which used to be stationed at Malappuram. The Commander-in-chief said it was impossible, with a limited number of troops, to station detachments in every locality where there was a possibility of outbreak occurring.
In the Assembly, Sir William Vincent paid a tribute to the assistance of loyal Moplahs. The latter, on the initiative of Sayyed Makdoom Thangal, who is head of the Muslim region in Malabar, have issued a manifesto, which says:
To all Muslim brethren – As Mr. Gandhi and certain other Hindus, also Messrs. Shaukat Ali and Mohamed Ali, Moslems, are misleading our brethren, seeking thereby to destroy our deepseated loyalty towards the British Government, we, who are well known to our brethren in Malabar, do hereby proclaim that all such disloyal and pernicious teachings are absolutely contrary to true Islamic faith, and that it is our most fervent desire that our Muslim brethren should be shielded from the deplorable evils which must inevitably follow from the seditious propaganda. The Moslems of Ponnani have unreservedly repudiated and dissociated themselves from all organisations and societies formed by seditious and misguided non-co-operators miscalled Khalifatists. Murder, dacoities, plunder, forcible conversion, and undue interference with the legitimate rights of others, these and similar acts are wholly antagonistic to the preaching of the sacred Islam. To take life in an unjust and sinful cause and court death in such a cause are diabolical crimes against God, whose holy Prophet has strongly condemned such sinful acts. Therefore, brethren, be hereby warned that to follow the sinister teachings of sinful persons and corrupt minds is wicked, ungodly, and one who sins in this way can never hope to win any reward in Heaven, but instead would certainly be condemned to perdition.