Page 138 - Train to Pakistan

armed villagers thirsting for blood. I have fifty policemen with me and not one
of them would fire a shot at a Sikh. But if your honour can use influence with

these mobs, I can tell the camp commander about the plans to ambush the train
and persuade him not to go.’
The subinspector was hitting below the belt.

‘No, no,’ stuttered the magistrate. ‘What can influence do with armed mobs?
No. We must think.’
Hukum Chand sank back in his chair. He covered his face with his hands. He

beat his forehead gently with his clenched fist. He tugged at his hair as if he
could pull ideas out of his brain.
‘What has happened to those two men you arrested for the moneylender’s

murder?’ he asked after some time.
The subinspector did not see the relevance of the inquiry.
‘They are still in the lockup. You ordered me to keep them till the trouble was

over. At this rate it seems I will have to keep them for some months.’
‘Are there any Muslim females, or any stray Muslims who have refused to
leave Mano Majra?’

‘No, sir, not one remains. Men, women, children, all have left,’ answered the
subinspector. He was still unable to catch up with Hukum Chand’s train of
thought.

‘What about Jugga’s weaver girl you told me about? What was her name?’
‘Nooran.’
‘Ah yes, Nooran. Where is she?’

‘She has left. Her father was a sort of leader of the Muslims of Mano Majra.
The lambardar told me a great deal about him. He had just one child, this girl
Nooran; she is the one alleged to be carrying on with the dacoit Jugga.’

‘And this other fellow, didn’t you say he was a political worker of some sort?’
‘Yes, sir. People’s Party or something like that. I think he is a Muslim
Leaguer masquerading under a false label. I examined …’

‘Have you got any blank official papers for orders?’ cut in Hukum Chand
impatiently.

‘Yes, sir,’ answered the subinspector. He fished out several pieces of yellow
printed paper and handed them to the magistrate.
Hukum Chand stretched out his hand and plucked the subinspector’s fountain
pen from his pocket.