Bhandari militia

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The Bhandari Militia was the first paramilitary police force of the Bombay Presidency in the early days of the British East India Company . It existed, not always under this name, from 1672 to 1800. It was dissolved when the Bombay City Police became a civilian unit.

Early history

A first troop was formed by Gerald Aungier shortly after Charles II had ceded the island of Bombay, which he had received as a dowry, to the East India Company in 1668. This at a time when British activities were still mainly characterized by trade interests and their claims were still endangered by the Mughals, Marathas , Portuguese and Dutch traders . There was compulsory service for men, but you could buy yourself out. Initially the local garrison was to be supported by the 5-600 men, but the police duties were soon added. The three companies, which met at least once a month for training, consisted mostly of Portuguese-Indian mongrels ( black christians ) and Bhandaris (contemporary: bandareens ), members of a local land- owning Hindu caste. The resolution ordered by the London Court of Directors under Josia Child in 1682 did not take place when the Shivaji uprising broke out. The troops supported the bloodless mutiny of Captain Robert Keigwin in 1683 , who drove the company out of Bombay for a year.

1694-1770

The poor nightly security situation on the island required regular patrols, for which 20 men were initially assigned. At that time the judiciary was still developing. Although an employee of the company was Chief Justice, he had just as little legal expertise as the President (as chief judge). All 13 members of his council were also justice of the peace. The sheriff and lower court officials, the so-called vereadores , gained more and more powers after 1726. 1769–1771 there was a judicial and police reform.

1771-1800

Under Brig. Gen. David Wedderburn , the Bhandari militia was reorganized into a battalion of 48 officers and 400 men. A quarter of the troops, spread over three posts, were on duty at night. In addition there were 20 Portuguese of the possessing classes selected by the Vereadores. The compulsory passport was introduced for residents. The militiamen received fishing bonuses for runaway (negro) slaves, drunk seamen, etc.

From 1776 the patrols of sepoys began . However, since the security situation outside the city wall did not improve, James death was appointed on Feb. 17, 1779 to the newly created post of Lieutenant of Police . In the course of the following year he drafted the first police ordinances based on the model issued for Calcutta in 1778 , which came into force on April 17, 1780. Tod's position was changed to Deputy of Police that same month, with an annual salary of Rs.3,000 and extensive powers as judge. At first 24 gendarmes were at his side. Death, whose administration of office had been criticized many times, was convicted of corruption and dismissed in 1790. The militia now consisted of a secretary, 4 NCOs ( havildar ) and 86 sepoys, for which a total of Rs. 318 a month were spent.

Following the English model, a Commission of Peace with additional justices of the peace was set up in 1793 . The judiciary was reformed by the Cornwallis Code . The post of chief of police, with reduced powers, was renamed Superintendent of Police . The first incumbent until 1808 was Simon Halliday . The areas outside the city walls were divided into 14 districts in 1800, whose stations ( chauki ) were each commanded by two gendarmes and to which a total of 130 auxiliary police officers were subordinate. This became the basis of the Bombay City Police ; the militia was disbanded.

literature

  • Edwardes, Stephen M .; The Bombay City Police: A Historical Sketch, 1672-1916; Bombay et al. a. 1923 ( full text )

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ on the caste see en: Bhandaris
  2. ↑ so-called coffrees. If these were not triggered by their masters within a year during which they were used in fortress construction or on ships, they were taken to Bencoolen (Sumatra). Edwardes (1923), p. 8
  3. ↑ based on Act XXXIII (Geo. III) of 1793
  4. ↑ contemporary "Dongree and the Woods," evolved into "Old Town" and "New Town" in the 19th century. Edwardes (1923), p. 19