Three of the following details of the Supa disturbance were reported…

Three of the following details of the Supa disturbance were reported by the same official in May 1875. Identify the odd one out.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Troops were quickly called in to bring the area under control.

Option (1) Account papers, bonds, grains and country cloth were burnt in the street. — Incorrect. The District Magistrate of Poona reported this in his letter of 16 May 1875: papers, bonds, grain and cloth were burnt in the street.

Option (2) Troops were quickly called in to bring the area under control. — Correct. This is the odd one. The calling in of troops came later as the revolt spread, and it is part of the wider account of how the British put it down, not the Magistrate's letter from Supa.

Option (3) The chief constable of the area apprehended 50 persons in the village. — Incorrect. The Magistrate reported that the chief constable apprehended 50 persons at Supa.

Option (4) The estimated loss in the village was put at over Rs 25,000. — Incorrect. The Magistrate put the estimated loss at over Rs 25,000, though moneylenders claimed over 1 lakh.

NCERT (2026-27): “3.1 Account books are burnt …
On 16 May 1875, the District Magistrate of Poona wrote to the Police Commissioner: On arrival at Supa on Saturday 15 May I learnt of the disturbance. One house of a moneylender was burnt down; about a dozen were forcibly broken into and completely gutted of their content. Account papers, bonds, grains, country cloth were burnt in the street where heaps of ashes are still to be seen. The chief constable apprehended 50 persons. Stolen property worth Rs 2000 was recovered. The estimated loss is over Rs 25,000. Moneylenders claim it is over 1 lakh.”

“As the revolt spread, British officials saw the spectre of 1857 (see Chapter 11). Police posts were established in villages to frighten rebellious peasants into submission. Troops were quickly called in; 951 people were arrested, and many convicted. But it took several months to bring the countryside under control.”