Punitive Police in Lahore.

WE understand from a reliable source that the Punjab Government have under consideration the establishment of a punitive police at Lahore, which will probably cost the citizens a lakh of rupees a year. The question came up recently before the meeting of the Lahore Municipal Committee in an indirect form when a request was made to the President to represent to Sir Edward Maclagan that no such police force should be posted at Lahore, as no damage to property, public or private, was done here. Moreover, the location of punitive police here will certainly remind the people of the bitter and regrettable events of the Martial Law period, and would hinder the process of reconciliation. So far as our information goes, the idea did not originate with the present Lieutenant-Governor but was suggested by his predecessor at a time when the public situation was causing anxiety and there was great excitement and panic.