LONDON: Preparations have now been completed for temporary accommodation in Britain of Indian prisoners of war the moment they are released following the unconditional surrender of Germany. About 12,000 Indian prisoners, mostly taken in North Africa, are now in the Reich or occupied territory. As soon as they are released, they will be brought to camps in eastern England and eventually sent home to India.

The organisation, set up in Britain by the Government of India, is officially called the Indian Prisoner of War Reception Group, commanded by Brig. H.H. Rich, himself a prisoner of war in the last war, who said at a Press conference at India House today [Sept 20] that prisoners included a number of Indian merchant seamen.

The reception organisation, he explained, consists of a headquarters with five camps and an Indian general hospital commanded by a British officer with a medical and nursing staff of Indians. The supply personnel is also Indian, chiefly butchers who will handle meat in the way approved by various castes. “As far as possible, the released prisoners will be given the sort of food they are accustomed to in India,” said Brig. Rich. — Dawn Delhi

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2019