Tanaka Renji and others

Case Summary

All the defendants were of the Imperial Japanese Navy at No. 1 Indian Field Survey Company RIE. The defendants were charged with war crimes concerning the ill-treatment of Hari Dass, a civillian resident of Port Blair. Ill-treatment caused the victim's death. During the incident on 19 January 1945, a schoolmaster, Hari Dass, the victim, was arrested by Tanaka Renji, the first defendant, who suspected him of having stolen wood from a Japanese store. The first defendant tied the victim to a post and beat him with a stick for about 10-15 minutes. The victim was then tied to a tree and beaten with sticks by Nakayama Harumi, the second defendant; Fujie Takeo, the third defendant; and Matsuoka Isamu on the first defendant's orders. Cold water was also thrown over the victim in between beatings which lasted 15 and 10 minutes. On being untied, the victim fell to the ground and the three defendants kicked him into a ditch. The victim died as a result of the beatings.

For more information see:

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/0353c9/

http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/b5dc6b/

Tanaka Renji, the first defendant, who was sentenced to death by hanging, committed suicide after the trial by hanging himself with a piece of towelling which had been left in his cell.