Continued ghastly retribution

The trial and condemnation, following the Bibighar massacre had already taken place. And on 25th July 1857 Neill issued a brigade order.

According to this order, all prisoners suspected of being guilty of having taken part in the murder of European women and children, were to be taken into Bibighur by Major Bruce’s mehtar police, and there made to crouch down and with their mouth, lick a square foot of ground before being taken to the gallows and hanged.

The procedure: The dried blood on the floor was first moistened with water and then the prisoners were brought in and struck with lashes by the warder till the wretches fell down on their knees and began licking the blood on the floor. Neill justified his action in the following words “My object was to inflict a fearful punishment for a revolting, cowardly , and barbarous deed, and to strike terror into the rebels.”