It is clear that there was communication between the sepoy lines of various cantonments. People were thus planning and talking about the rebellion. But one incident provides clues as to how the mutinies came to be so organised. Captain Hearsey of the Awadh Military Police had been given protection by his Indian subordinates during the mutiny. The 41st Native Infantry, which was stationed in the same place, insisted that since they had killed all their white officers, the Military Police should also kill Hearsey or deliver him as prisoner to the 41st.
According to the lines left out at the end of the passage, how was the matter of Captain Hearsey to be settled?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → By a panchayat composed of native officers drawn from each regiment
Option (1) By a panchayat composed of native officers drawn from each regiment — Correct. The Military Police refused both demands. The matter went to a panchayat composed of native officers drawn from each regiment, which shows that some decisions were taken collectively.
Option (2) By the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah, to whom the sepoys looked for leadership — Incorrect. Bahadur Shah was the ruler the sepoys at Delhi asked to lead them. This dispute in Awadh was settled among the regiments themselves.
Option (3) By the officers of the 41st Native Infantry, who had made the demand — Incorrect. The 41st Native Infantry was one side of the dispute. A panchayat drawn from each regiment was to decide it.
Option (4) By the taluqdars of Awadh, who led the rebels in that area — Incorrect. The taluqdars led many peasants in Awadh, but this was a dispute between sepoy units. Native officers of the regiments were to settle it.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.2 Lines of communication … |