A letter from Hong Kong Police to Punjab Government.

I have the honour to suggest that a watch be kept for the return to the Punjab of a man named Bhagwan Singh, son of Sarmokh Singh, caste Brahman Sikh, village Viring, tehsil Tarn Taran, Amritsar District. He is believed to have left India about the year 1909 or 1910, on account of having got into trouble through abducting another man's daughter. I am unable to furnish any details about this matter. In the year 1910 Bhagwan Singh was Granthi at the Sikh Gurdwara at Perak, Federated Malay States. In the same year, he was got rid of by the Committee of the above mentioned Gurdwara, because he was said to preach sedition, and to hold advanced views, which were objected to. He then proceeded to this Colony, where he was Granthi at the local Gurdwara from 1910-13. During this period disputes amongst the Sikh community were frequent, and enquiries have shown that he was largely responsible. His preaching was not in strict accordance with the precepts of the Sikh religion, and he encouraged a considerable amount of loose talk, some of which, though not amounting exactly to sedition, was certainly directed against the British Government. In addition to this, his moral character was bad, and there are good grounds for believing that he consorted, with loose Chinese women, although his wife and family were in the Colony. The disputes amongst the Sikh community eventually led to serious litigation. A settlement was arrived at recently. and it was decided to get rid of the Granthi. The latter left for Japan on 14th May last per S.S. "Empress of Russia" with the expressed intention of proceeding to Canada or the United States of America. His family is still in Hongkong, and will probably return to India.

His conduct while in this Colony has shown that he is not a fit person to occupy the position of Granthi, and he is said not to be an orthodox Sikh.

His grandfather is said to have resided in Kashmir, and his father removed from there to the Punjab. Bhagwan Singh is a man of about 5.8 or 5.9 in height, and about 30 years of age. He is well educated in Urdu and Gurmukhi, and knows a certain amount of English. He has noticeably narrow eyes, and his expression is shifty. His beard is slight, and straggling, and his general appearance slovenly. He usually wears two puggaries, the outer one being very carelessly tied, and a portion of his Khes (Sikh top knot of hair) can generally be seen in front of the ear, below the turban.

I have, etc.,
C. McI MESSER,
(Captain Superintendent of Police.)