Government Measures to Crush the Bengal Movement: The government followed a policy of repression to stop the Swadeshi movement and Boycott movement, which was launched as a reaction against the partition of Bengal in 1905. (i) The people and local leaders were beaten mercilessly by the solders and hundreds were put behind the bars. (ii) Meetings were disrupted and the political leaders were jailed. Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh were arrested and deported to Burma. In 1906, Tilak was sentenced to six year imprisonment. (iii) The students were beaten, flogged and expelled. Teachers and professors were threatened with the disciplinary action. (iv) The British Government followed a policy of divide and rule. They tried to prevent Muslims from joining the Congress by following a policy of conciliation towards Muslims. (v) School and colleges were warned. The Government grants to educational institutions which were suspected of participating in the Swadeshi Movement, were discontinued.