throughout the city; a publicity van broadcast it through the microphone and copies were given to the various newspapers. Police arrangements were made to meet the expected emergency and by 7-30 a.m. on the 21st of Februrary 1952, the Control Room was manned and dispositions were made of the police forces in accordance with these arrangements. Reports were received at the Control Room and at the various police stations from an early hour in the morning that attempts were being made to enforce the hartal by closing down shops interfering with vehicular traffic and compelling passengers to dismount from buses, taxis, rickshaws and hackney carriages. Throughout the day the situation deteriorated and ultimately the Police opened fire at 3-20 p.m. at the Medical College gate with the result that one person was killed on the spot and three others subsequently succumbed to the injuries they received. One of the persons killed was a student named Abul Barkat.
2. On Thursday, March 13, 1952, a notification, being Notification No. 943-PL. dated the 13th March, 1952, was published in the Dacca Gazette, Extraordinary of that date
The notification is in the following terms:—
"With regard to the firing by police that took place in Dacca on the 21st February. 1952, the Government of East Bengal have decided that an enquiry should be held by a Judge of the Dacca High Court to be nominated by the Hon'ble the Chief Justice. The terms of reference of the enquiry are as follows
To enquire and report-
(i) whether the firing by the police was necessary, and
(ii) whether the force thus used by the police was justified in the circumstances of the case or whether it was in excess of that necessary to restore order.
The enquiry shall be held in camera. The Enquiring Judge may at his discretion permit Advocates to assist him in the conduct of the enquiry.
The enquiry shall start on a date to be fired by the Enquiring Judge and shall be completed as soon as possible."
3. This notification recited that the Government of East Bengal had decided that the enquiry should be held by a Judge of the Dacca High Court nominated by the Hon'ble Chief Justice. Thereafter, I received a copy of an order, dated the 17th of March, 1952. from His Excellency the Governor of East Bengal, directing that I should hold the enquiry. The order runs as follows:—
"His Excellency the Governor of East Bengal is pleased to direct the Hon'ble Mr. Justice T. H. Ellis, a Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Dacca to hold an enquiry into the firing by the police at Dacca on the 21st February, 1952, as required under Notification No. 943-PL., dated the 13th March, 1952, published in the Dacca Gazette. Extraordinary, dated the 13th March 1952.
Secretary to the Governor of East Bengal
