We have to presume that the Congress – Khilafat leaders could not convince the Moplahs of Eranad, Valluvananad, Thirurangadi and Tirur the fact that Khilafat movement was in fact only Noncooperation with the British government. Even if such an attempt was made by the leaders, some vested interests who had immense influence among Moplahs had conspired to convert it into mass genocide of Hindus. An ordinary Muslim might not be mentally prepared to fight with an administrative set up in possession of deadly weapons like guns and cannons. The ideas of redeeming India from the yokes of British hegemony would not normally arise in the minds of common men who toil very hard every day to make both ends meet. Even in their Manjeri meeting the Congress and Khilafat leaders had, not even once, said that the Khilafat agitation was a battle against British to be fought with swords and guns. Then it is worth analyzing as to how this agitation took the shape of a communal carnage in some taluks of Malabar. It should be presumed that blind faith, superstitons and unrestrained fanatic feelings were injected into the minds of these innocent and ignorant Moplahs. Their belief that the guns of British do not spit fire but only water due to the divine powers of their religious leaders amply demonstrates that the minds of these ordinary folks were injected with severe communal venom and motivation. Those who prepared these Moplahs to raise swords and spears subsequently lost all control over them, rendering it impossible to hold them back from the mindless deeds. We have already dealt with the atrocities committed by the Moplahs.
At the same time it should not be forgotton that the Muslims too had to suffer a lot mostly in the hands of government forces. Their actions alone led to these cruel retaliations from the army. The army started shooting down Moplahs at sight. There were several such executions in the rebellion affected areas. If we take account of them, the number of Muslims killed during the insurgency would be more than that of Hindus. Once arrested, their hands will be tied to the back. To prevent them from running away, their legs too will be tied together. Those who were put to chains like this from Nilambur and Perintalmanna etc will be forced to run upto Tirur to be eventually loaded in to a Railway wagon to be taken to Bellari central jail for imprisonment. Those who have seen dumping 60 or 70 prisoners like cattle in a single wagon will definitely vouch for the pitiable plight of Moplahs.
In the first half of second stage and the third stage of the mutiny, the Moplahs and army were virtually fighting a war between them like enemies. Hence the British army men would have treated the Moplahs very brutally, who fell into their hands. The arrested Moplahs had turned half alive /half dead, virtual cadavers after putting up with the violent kicks, flogging and bayonet charges inflicted upon them by the army men. It is said that these people were not even provided with drinking water to quench their severe thirst. Very few lucky of them got half boiled rice in small cigarette packet sized tins. Any of those who were forced to run all the way to Tirur station fell on the way completely exhausted. They were mercilessly whipped and kicked and forced to continue the run. It is also heard that some of the thirsty prisoners were forced to drink water soiled with dog shit using crude raw bamboo pots. In jail also the Moplahs were subjected to cruel torture. Many of the arrested rioters who were put in the cellular jail had succumbed to the injuries caused by the inhuman torture. There were many innocent people among the arrested. They were all unfortunately rounded up in groups along with the guilty rioters.
