59
Question 53.—When a man is smarting under
the sense of wrong, he takes to his ganja or bhang
and uses it to excess. Under the influence of the
drug thus used to excess and smarting under the
sense of wrong, he runs " amok." I have never
had experience of such a case. I only state what
I have heard. But I have seen cases of insubor
dination and unusual violence of behaviour, due to
the sense of discipline being lost by indulgence at
the time in these drugs. I do not know of any
30. Evidence of MR. F. A. NAYLOR, District Superintendent of Police, Saugor,
a d m i x t u r e o f o t h e r d r u g s b e i n g u s e d i n t h e b h a n g
in such cases of running "amok " as I have des
cribed. The man who was thus smarting under
the sense of wrong would smoke or drink accord
ing to his habit. The usual statement is that the
man has used bhang before running " amok."
But the violence and insubordination of behaviour
which has come to my notice have been, I think,
due to ganja or bhang, I cannot say which.
51. In towns especially, I think a large propor
tion of the bad characters are moderate consumers
of hemp drugs. In the districts the proportion of
moderate consumers is smaller than in towns.
These drugs are generally made use of by gamb
lers. Whether the drugs lead to the gambling or the
gambling to the drugs, I am not prepared to say,
but that there is a connection between drugs and
the criminals, through the channel of gambling,
there is no doubt ; when the gambler is short of
funds, he takes to stealing.
52. The excessive use of these drugs sometimes
leads to the commission of crime of a more serious
nature. I know of several instances which have
occurred from time to time during my service of
26 years, but having no notes, I am unable to
give details. I particularly remember an instance
of a Banjara in Balaghat who killed two or three per
sons after smoking ganja to excess. Similarly,
I remember an instance of a Gond who killed his
brother in the Chanda district. Another Gond
who was given to the excessive use of ganja,
ran amok in the Bilaspur district. I know of
many instances, but cannot recall the details now.
53. An excessive use of hemp products, especi
ally ganja, often leads to unpremeditated violent
crime; instances quoted above. It also causes the
death of the consumers, who, when the system is
saturated to a certain extent, sometimes drop
dead after taking a long pull. In my experience,
at least four or five such cases have occurred. I am
unable to give the names of the parties or the
districts in which these cases occurred, as I am
talking of an experience of twenty-six years. I
however remember the cases well. I know of
several instances in which it has led to temporary
homicidal frenzy. Many persons in this state have
in my experience been arrested and locked up, or
sent to the lunatic asylum, before they were able
to do much harm.
54. Yes, often. It is notorious that Ghazis
" bhang " themselves when they wish to fight or
to run amok. I know of several instances in
which criminals have taken bhang, ganja, or liquor
but never an instance of opium.
55. Yes. Criminals induce their victims to
take bhang or smoke ganja, so that they may be
so stupefied as to be unable to understand the
nature of the crime to be committed, or to make
any resistance. Complete stupefaction is not often
induced by these drugs without admixture, but
the drugs are used as a medium.
I can remember instances in Hoshangabad,
Betul, and Khandwa in which a mixture of bhang
and dhatura was administered to victims who were
robbed. One or two cases occurred on the railway,
and some were committed by a famous poisoner.
I have on more than one occasion recovered ganja,
bhang, and dhatura seed, more or less mixed,
from the possession of suspected poisoners.
vol vi
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—I am in Central Provinces Police.
I have twenty-six years' service in this province
as Assistant and District Superintendent of Police.
I have been in all divisions, and in nearly all
districts.
Question 52.—The Balaghat case was about
eighteen years ago. As far as I remember, the
criminal was a Banjara. He killed his own wife
and two members of the tanda. It was not a
case of jealousy ; but I cannot say whether there
was any cause of quarrel picked. I investigated
the case as District Superintendent of Police. I
remember ganja was alleged as the cause. My
recollection is that he was convicted ; but I
cannot be certain. It was above the Ghats. The
man was probably also a liquor drinker ; for most
Banjaras drink. He ran "amok " with an axe.
He had not, I think, been in that state before.
H e was placed under observation ; and my re
collection is that he was held responsible for his
act. But the people of his tanda alleged the
excessive use of ganja as the cause of his out
break. Many Banjaras (especially of the higher
castes that do not drink) take ganja. I cannot
say whether there had been any admixture in the
ganja. Banjaras are a people rather given to
violence.
The Chanda case was about fifteen years ago.
It was in the family of a petty zamindar near
Panabaras. The man killed his brother or cousin.
I think it was in respect to a succession in which
he would be benefited. I think the man was
convicted. He was placed under observation
before trial. His friends (I think) alleged ganja
in excess as the cause. But my recollection is
that he was tried and convicted. Most Gonds
drink. Some take ganja. This man was perhaps
a liquor drinker ;but he was a Raj-Gond, who
profess at least not to drink. Gonds are often
addicted to crimes of violence. The Gond is the
man who is generally employed to commit a
crime of violence; and Gonds readily confess such
crimes.
T h e B i l a s p u r c a s e w a s a r e c e n t c a s e , i n 1 8 9 0
;
o r 1 8 9 1 . T h e G o n d r a n " a m o k . " H e t r i e d t o
kill his wife and son, but they escaped as he was
getting the weapon, and he rushed out of the
house and killed the first two people he met with
the sword. He had asked for food. His wife pro
ceeded to serve it. He came in an excited state
and proceeded to get his sword. Suspecting that
he was off his head, the wife and son ran off.
Two people (a man and woman) who were going
to see what was the matter were cut down by
him. He had, I think, been in a similar state
once or twice before. This occurred in a village
near the outpost of Kanteli. He was arrested by
the Mungeli Police, sword in hand, next day.
believe he was sent to the Nagpur Lunatic