Barisal Conspiracy Case

The Barisal Conspiracy Case too, witnessed the outstanding planning of the revolutionaries. A Samiti was established in Barisal (now in Bangladesh) in approximately 1904 known as Barisal Samiti. It was an offshoot of `Dacca Anushilan Samiti`. Its chief was known as district organiser and Jatin Ghosh was the first to hold that post. He was succeeded by Ramesh Acharya who was only twenty-one during the time of his arrest. The Samiti foremost intention was to overthrow the British government. Recruitment of boys, collection of arms and murder of spies and individuals who were suspected to be unfaithful to the organisation were some of its principal activities. The scheme of the organisation was to spread the movement among the schoolboys, who were considered the depositories of enthusiastic fervour with the capability of doing work with self-sacrifice. With this object, the teachers permeated with patriotism were appointed in the schools under the control of the samiti and the youth were attracted in enormous number. The Sedition Committee observed in its report: "The members were gradually initiated into the inner circle by vows of gradually increasing solemnity. There were several departments like the Arms department, the Action department, the Violence department, the Organisation department, the General department etc. The organisation and the vows, the methods of work etc. were similar to those proved in the Dacca Conspiracy Case". The organisation was systematic and complete. The Sonarang National School was one of the important centres of this organisation. The curriculum of the school was the same as in the government schools up to the entrance or matriculation standard, with the only addition of physical exercise and lathi play. The members of the Samiti committed about fourteen political dacoities in a period of two years, from 30th September 1910 to 14th November 1912.

The Barisal Conspiracy Case was registered on 12th May 1913, sanction for the prosecution of forty-four persons under section 120-AIPC was granted by the local government. Thirty-seven of them were arrested and the remaining was declared absconders. Two turned approvers and seven others were discharged by the magistrate. The remaining twenty-eight were committed to a session`s trial. Two were discharged by the session`s court. Twelve pleaded guilty during trial and were convicted and sentenced. The case was withdrawn against the remaining fourteen accused.

Later, of the absconders, Madan Mohan Bhaumik alias Madan Mohan Chandra Bhaumik alias Kulada Prasad Ray, Trailokya Nath Chakravarti alias Kalidhar Chakravarti alias Birja Kanta Chakravarti, Khagendra Nath Chaudhari alias Suresh Chandra Chaudhari, Pratul Chandra Ganguli and Ramesh Chandra Datta Chaudhari alias Ram Chandra Chaudhari alias Paritosh were arrested on 5th January 1915 and were prosecuted in the Supplementary Barisal Conspiracy Case. They were committed to the court of sessions judge on 25th March 1915. Each of them was convicted under Section 120-A Indian Penal Code by the Sessions Judge Barisal in December 1915. Trailokya Nath Chakravarti alias Kalicharan was sentenced to transportation for fifteen years while the remaining four were sentenced to ten years` imprisonment. Trailokya Nath Chakravarti was one of the earliest members of the Anusilan Samiti. He was also wanted in Dacca Conspiracy Case but had run away. He was also suspected to be involved in fourteen murders and was considered by the British authorities as `very dangerous`. Madan Mohan Bhaumik, Trailokya Nath Chakravarti and Khagendra Nath Chaudhari were deported to the Andamans.