File 1323/1916 Pt 1 ‘Baluchistan:- Disturbed conditions on the Anglo-Persian border. Future administration of Mekran, Sarhad & the Kalat States’ [‎423r] (843/896)

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and Yusafzais of the 5th Company and the
of the following sections—
1st Company was represented by men
Mehtarzai .
Sultanzai
Bakalzai
Naskhel
Morezai
Pishin Kakar
Panezai
Shamozai
Bazai
Mashwanrai
Sarangzai
Inbihatants of the Hindubagh Tahsil
in the Zhob district.
Inhabitants of
trict.
the Quetta-Pishin dis-
' • Inhabitants of the Sibi district.
It is unreasonable to, suppose that a plot involving such far-reaching conse-
quences for the participants could have been agreed on in one night by upwards
of 50 men of so many diverse sections. It is more likely that Jemadar Ali Jan and
his accomplices gradually worked on the men’s minds in small ways with the one
object in view, namely, for the whole detachment to go off together without an
internal dissension. First of all possibly came the general talk of His Majesty the
Amir joining in the war on the side of Turkey after return of the Powmdahs. Doubt
less discussions took place as to the large casualties in the war and the advent of
the Imperial Service Troops to Hindubagh and Killa Saifulla was pointed to as a
sign of Government’s diminished strength. Later, rumour had it all along this
border that the Kauroz had been fixed by His Majesty the Amir as the day on which
to commence hostilities. Ali Jan gives out that he has it from his Commanding
Officer that a detachment of the Militia had deserted with their weapons and the
pay of four Militia posts, and he follows this up by a statement that he has
it on the best authority that Government is about to send them out of India
to the front. ^ He had only to add that a jehad was just about to commence
m a few days time and that the men could now choose whether they were going to
fight for or against Islam and it would not be surprising if any number of ignorant
men thus worked on had agreed to follow him across the border.
10. All the above is conjecture, but it may perhaps be said to fit in with the prob
abilities of the case. The men in the Militia can never hope to save a competency, I p
however long they may serve. There is no money to be made out of the service
and a good deal of hardship to be undergone at times, A -303 rifle will fetch Bs. 600
across the border and the share of each man in the general loot might have been
reckoned at a substantial sum. A man might hope to set himself up comfortably
with the proceeds of the venture across the border even if the religious motive was
not sufficiently strong by itself to clinch the matter. i
11. Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. ISur Ahmed Khan avers that he had absolutely no inkling of the plot
to desert. He was away from Kamar-ud-din Karez from the 10th to the 19th March,
but it is very unlikely that the whole plot was matured in this short period. The
question is whether a watchful official with a detachment composed of so many
elements could not and should not have obtained some sort of inkling that all was
not well. Jemadar Ali Jan arrived at Kamar-ud-din Karez at the end of February,
and his Subedar, Nasrulla Khan, went on leave on the 1st March. It is probable
that on obtaining command the former immediately set to work to prepare his
men for the coup.
The Naib Tahsildar has said that he had no dealings with Jemadar Ali Jan
beyond inviting him and his Subedar to dinner on the night on which the former-
arrived at Kamar-ud'din Karez. The idea he wishes to impart is apparently that
he kept himself strictly to himself. If this were true much blame would attach
to him as the senior civil official at Kamar-ud-din Karez for he could not hope to
keep himself informed of what was going on and a dozen plots might have been
hatched under his nose. There is, however, plenty of evidence on the file to show
that Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nur Ahmed Khan used continually to go out coursing with the
Jemadar, the Line-rider and men of the Militia. It is also said that he used to play
cards with them. In an out-of-the-way and lonely spot like Kamar-ud-din Karez