CAPTAIN Abdul Rashid, charged in the 4th INA [Indian National Army] trial created a sensation on Tuesday [Jan 22] afternoon when he went into the witness box.

Reading from a written statement, in a clear ringing voice, he declared: “I was cut off from the rest of the world and could get only such news as were supplied by the Japanese. I was convinced that the non-Muslims who were the moving spirit in the INA were going to invade India with the help of the Japanese. I was also convinced that this would result in the domination of India by the non-Muslims with the help of Japanese.

“In order to safeguard the interests of my community I decided like most of the other Muslims to join the INA, in order to arm myself and thus be in a position to safeguard the interest of my community in India. I went to Singapore along with a reinforcement unit and fought against the Japanese till February 15, 1942. On general orders of surrender I became a POW … till the beginning of September 1942. …I never waged war against the King. It was never my intention. I joined the INA under unprecedented and peculiar circumstances. …”

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021