Page 61 - Train to Pakistan

border. We can charge him with something or other later.’

‘How do you know he is a Muslim Leaguer?’
The subinspector smiled confidently. ‘I had him stripped.’
Hukum Chand shook his glass to churn the dregs of chalk at the bottom, and

slowly drank up the remaining portion of the seltzer. He looked thoughtfully into
the empty tumbler and added:
‘Fill in the warrant of arrest correctly. Name: Mohammed Iqbal, son of

Mohammed Something-or-other, or just father unknown. Caste: Mussulman.
Occupation: Muslim League worker.’
The subinspector saluted dramatically.

‘Wait, wait. Do not leave things half done. Enter in your police diary words to
the effect that Ram Lal’s murderers have not yet been traced but that information
about them is expected soon. Didn’t you say Jugga has something to do with it?’

‘Yes, sir. The dacoits threw glass bangles in his courtyard before leaving.
Apparently he had refused to join them in their venture.’
‘Well, get the names out of him quickly. Beat him if necessary.’

The subinspector smiled. ‘I will get the names of the dacoits out of him in
twenty-four hours and without any beating.’
‘Yes, yes, get them in any way you like,’ answered Hukum Chand

impatiently. ‘Also, enter today’s two arrests on separate pages of the police
station diary with other items in between. Do not let there be any more
bungling.’

The subinspector saluted again.
‘I will take good care, sir.’

Iqbal and Jugga were taken to Chundunnugger police station in a tonga. Iqbal

was given the place of honour in the middle of the front seat. The driver perched
himself on the wooden shaft alongside the horse’s flank, leaving his seat empty.
Juggut Singh sat on the rear seat between two policemen. It was a long and dusty

drive on an unmetalled road which ran parallel to the railway track. The only
person at ease was Jugga. He knew the policemen and they knew him. Nor was
the situation unfamiliar to him.

‘You must have many prisoners in the police station these days,’ he stated.
‘No, not one,’ answered one of the constables. ‘We do not arrest rioters. We
only disperse them. And there is no time to deal with other crimes. Yours are the