Great anxiety prevails among the relatives and friends of Mr. Subhas Bose since last night, when it was noticed that he was not in his room where he had been confined since his release from jail in the first week of December.
It is stated that for some days past Mr. Bose had been observing strict silence and spending his time in religious practices. It is learnt that, as desired by Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose, no member of his family entered his room throughout Saturday, nor did Mr. Bose send for any one on that day. This caused anxiety among members of his family. On Sunday afternoon, they entered his room, but could not find Mr. Bose in his bed. Enquiries were made in all possible places including the residences of Mr. Bose's nearest relatives and friends, but so far no information has been received of Mr. Bose's whereabouts.
Some members of Mr. Bose's family believe that it is possible that Mr. Bose might have left his house some time on Saturday night.
The United Press adds:
Mr. Arabindo Bose, Mr. Subhas Bose's nephew, who was the only person allowed to look after Mr. Subhas Bose, in the course of a talk, stated that from January 16, Mr. Bose had taken a vow of silence and shut himself in his room which was partitioned by a screen, behind which he used to sit on a tiger's skin reading the Gita and other religious books, and meditating. Fruits, milk and water were placed outside the screen once a day, and the utensils removed only the next morning. If Mr. Bose wanted anything to be done in the meanwhile, he would place a slip outside the screen or ring the bell, but would not allow anybody to talk or disturb him.
On the 26th morning, Mr. Arabindo Bose, having found that the fruits and milk kept for Mr. Bose remained untouched since the previous evening, grew anxious and, after consultation with the other members of the family, dropped a slip over the screen, intimating that he would wait for half-an-hour, and if no response came by that time, would enter the room to see what had happened. Having had no response within the half-hour, Mr. Arabindo and the other members of the family entered the room and found Mr. Bose absent.
Intimation was immediately conveyed to Mr. Sarat Bose, who was in his gardenhouse at Rishra, a few miles from Calcutta. Men were sent to Belur, Dhakshineswar andv other places to find out Mr. Bose's whereabouts, but with no result.
Forward Bloc President's statement
The possibility of Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose having gone to Pondicherry is suggested by Sardar Sardul Singh Caveesher, Acting President of the Forward Bloc, in a statement to the Press TIIP Sardar Sahib says:
"I am shocked to hear that Mr. Subha Chandra Bose left his home yesterday; without any notice to his relatives.
"About a month back during my last visit to Calcutta, I had three pretty long interviews with him on the present Indian and international situation. Even then, I found that his illness had greatly told on his mind. He was much depressed that, at such a critical juncture, the Congress leadership had failed the country. I told him that public pressure was having its effect, and even Gandhiji had shown an inclination to adjust himself, to some extent, to the changed situation. I further told him that, by patient and steady work, it would not be very difficult to see that the Congress adopted the right course. But he had no such hopes. I found him talking like an inspirea person. He seemed to have felt during his illness that only sanyasis could free the country from its present bondage. He talked to me of some sanyasi ashrams in South India.
"During my present visit to Calcutta, I could not meet Mr. Subhas Bose and I could not know of recent developrflents in his mind. I, however, think that in all probability he has gone to Pondicherry."
No news from Pondicherry
"There is absolutely no news here about Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose", states a telegram received by Mr. Sarat Chandra Bose this afternoon from an inmate of the Sri Arobindo Ghosh's Ashram at Pondicherry, where he had sent a wire early this morning enquiring whether Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose was there.
Mr. Mukunda Lai Sarkar, acting Ser cretary of the Provincial Forward Bloc, has been sent to Chundernagore to make personal enquiries there.
Case against Mr. Bose, Magistrate issues warrant
When the case against Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose under the Defence of India Rules, came up for hearing before Khan Bahadur Wali-ul-Islam, Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate, the counsel for the accused informed the court that Mr. Bose was not in his house, and the members of his family did not know when and where he had left.
The Magistrate thereupon ordered the issue of a warrant of arrest against Mr. Bose under Section 38 (5) of the Defence of India Rules and for his production before him on February 3.
Mr. Bose is being prosecuted in this court in connection with a speech delivered by him at Mohammed Ali Park in April last and for the publication of an article entitled "The Day of Reckoning" in the English weekly Forward Bloc.
Following the issue of warrant of arrest against Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose, the Special Branch Police conducted this evening a search of Mr. Bose's residence at Elgin Road for over three hours, particularly, of the room to which Mr Bose was confined since his release from detention. They also examined some of the members of his family and the menials, and recorded their verbal statements on Mr. Bose's whereabouts.
