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There existed a system of 'Khansumari'. i.e. census in Bhonsale Raj. It was annual enumeration of houses in each district with the specification of castes, profession and other particulars for adjusting the Pandhari dues (House Tax) to Government. In 1819 the Resident conducted census and it is on record that mainly, the police officials were employed for the task. The Superintendent of Police. Nagpur was entrusted with census for Nagpur City.
Nagpur Police After Restoration of the Territories to Raja, Raghuji, the III:
When Raghuji III became major in 1826, he was seated on the throne and British officers were withdrawn. Raja appointed his own ministers and for Police Dept. he appointed Salauddin, who had worked in the same Dept. under British Superintendence and was “a very active man in that Dept." In the places of British Superintendents, natives of the rank, called Soobahs or Ziledars were appointed in Chanda, Bhandara. Chindwara and Chattisgarh Districts. The same officers who had worked under Jenkins were employed under
them maintaining continuity in administration. Indian officers of status and capacity were appointed in the Courts for dispensing justice. The area where the Resident lived and the adjoining army area, viz. Sitaburdi was outside the jurisdiction of the Raja. They had their own police. The crimes committed in this area were tried by the Resident and his assistants, even if the criminal was from outside the jurisdiction of the Residency. There used to be large number of counterfeiting cases. There were deaths in prison, but no inquiry was ordered. However, old records show that a Fouzdar who had used third degree methods to obtain confession was terminated from service and fined on public complaints. There were cases of persons voluntarily approaching the British police and confessing crimes. Such persons were convicted and sent to jails without further enquiries.
The Raja did not disturb the police establishment. Nagpur Police received high praise from the British officers. On 12th March, 1833, the Resident reported to the Governor General. “It is to the credit of Raja's administration that the tranquility has not in any material degree - even partially disturbed. Security to person and property is better than Nizam's territory. The policing is very efficiently conducted and that the victims of public outrages within the Nagpur territories are very rare.” Later in 1839, Resident Cavendish wrote, "The police of this country is excellent... I have never seen a better Police even in our own provinces…” However he added that because of the sinking finances, the Police were not paid regularly and there was a danger of deterioration in the police force unless some corrective measures were adopted. It was feared that the Police might ‘recompose themselves at the cost of the people and might connive at robberies, when their own situations would not be worth holding for the wages'.
The forecast did come true and the police became slack and corrupt. The Sanskrit proverb, 'Raja Kalasya Karanam' explains the situation. Raghuji had almost become desperate for being unable to be get an heir to the throne. He fell into bad company, developed bad habits as well as sickness in later years and neglected administration. After his death, adoption of a male child by his queen was not accepted by the British rulers and the Company Government annexed Nagpur Kingdom.
The Thugee and Dacoity :
A French traveler in the 17th Century wrote that the 'most cunning' robbers in the world were living in India. It is believed that the thugee was introduced into India by some wild Mohammedan tribes of Persian origin. But it enveloped within its fold people of diverse religions and castes. The Thugs claimed divine origin from the order of Goddess Kali or Fatima, wife of Ali. They used to waylay travelers, strangulate them and bury in remote places. For eradicating this menace a special officer was appointed by the Govt. of India. Since these criminals did not necessarily belong to a particular state, they were considered as International criminals and their trial was taken over by the British agents. All the States were required to contribute to meet the expenses incurred on apprehension and subsequent imprisonment of the thugs and dacoits. In Nagpur, agent Frazer was appointed on a consolidated pay of Rs.390 for which sanction of the Nagpur Darbar was obtained. The Thugs and Dacoits were initially tried at Calcutta and after 1849 by the British agents at Nagpur. If the subjects of the Raja of Nagpur were involved, permission of the Raja was sought and granted "to hold sessions for the trial of Thugs and dacoits arrested and convicted at Nagpur".
The City of Nagpur had population of about 1, 40,000 and the police force (excluding the area of Sitaburdi directly under the Resident) about 700 in number, was divided into seven Companies each commanded by a Subedar. All of them worked under Kotwal or Daroga of the City. The City Jail under Kotwal was in the immediate charge of Subedar of the 2nd Company. The Jail guard was composed of 100 men deputed from the seven companies.
Mofussil Police had more than 400 men distributed in 25 Parganas in the Nagpur Collectorate and presided over by a Kamavisdar, equivalent to Tahsildar on an average pay of Rs. 61.50 p.m. The District Police and the fouzdari duties of the collectorate were generally under the Daroga on a salary of Rs. 200 p.m. with a large establishment of Mutsaddies. Station houses and outposts were located at convenient places. There was near total lack of supervision which led to rampant extortion and corruption. Beams inform us, "the Daroghas of the old type, ruled as little kings in their own jurisdiction and reaped a rich harvest of bribes from all classes. He describes a good specimen of Darogha," a tall portly Mohammedan, grey beard, with smooth sleek look, crafty as a fox, extremely polished in manner, deferential to his superiors, but haughty and tyrannical to his inferiors. With his huge scarlet turban laced with gold, his sword, long riding boots, he bestrode a gaunt roan horse with gray eyes, a pink nose, and a long flowing tail". There were 112 Thanas and Nakas and the rates of pay varied from Rs. 5 to Rs. 15 a month. (Grains were sold at the rate 18 or 20 sears or about 14-15 KG for a Rupee).
Nagpur Police After Annexation: (1854 -1861):
The period of feudal rule ended in Nagpur in 1853 with the annexation of the territories to British empire. Office of the Resident was abolished after annexation and his place was occupied by a Commissioner. The first officiating Commissioner was Capt. E.K. Elliot, whose substantive post was that of Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Province. Posts of Kamavisdars and Zilledars were abolished. In place of 27 Kamavisdars, 10 Tahsildars were appointed. They enjoyed powers of Deputy Magistrates in Fouzdari matters. Each Tahsildar had one or two Naib Tahsildars to assist him.
Not much change was made in the Police structure. The Residency Police and Bazar establishment was discontinued and the divisions of the time of superintendency were restored under City Kotwal. (Pay Rs. 100 p.m.). Each division was under the Soobadaror Daroga as before (pay Rs. 30 p.m.) and was assisted by 2 Naib Darogas (Rs. 15 p.m.). 5 Jamadars (Rs. 10) and 50 Burkandza. (Rs. 4) with one Moharir (Rs. 10). Police strength was nearly halved. Besides the regular military, the defensive and protective force in Nagpur Province consisted of both, the Nagpur Irregular Force and the Civil Police. Hence, the risk of reduction of police force in the city was taken even though there was a possibility of revolt after annexation.
The District Police had 500 men with a Daroga (Rs. 50 p.m.) in each Tahsil and Naib Daroga and Jamadars posted in small Thanas and the Burkandaz (Sepoys) distributed as per requirements. The idea of combining the revenue department with the police department as prevalent in the British India at that time, was continued even after the reorganization of Police in Nagpur Province after annexation. There were Superintendents of Police in each District. The Irregular army had its own police battalions. Close watch was kept over the meetings and gatherings of local officers. Kotwals, Darogas and Tahsildars used to look after criminal justice.
It was the view of IT Prichard that inefficiency and corruption were eating into the very vitals of the police force and much of the disaffection which surfaced in 1857 was attributed to the extortion, intrigue and oppression exercised by the police. They could get any native convicted of any crime they liked.
Crime Situation in 1860 :
Crime statistics of Bhonsale period are not available. The first available report of 1860-61 informs that the crime rate had risen in that year. There were 8085 cases reported in 1860 in the whole of Nagpur territory, i.e. about one crime was committed per 462 souls. Richard Temple explained, "The old civil police were less effective. It may be anticipated that the ratio of crime will probably be somewhat high. The people are not indeed of a proud, sensitive, turbulent or fierce nature which prompts to crimes of violence. But, from its peculiar central position, the country is constantly traversed by wandering tribes of bad character. On many sides it is surrounded by wild regions which give shelter to criminals…" Figures of various crimes are not separately available. There were cases of murder, but as in other part of India, murders to avenge dishonor to women were rare. Murders generally proceeded from avarice. Horrid crimes were committed for small gain like murdering women for jewels, men for cash and children for ornaments. There used to be secret infanticide which was almost curbed. Maltreatment and even killing of women for witch-craft which was once common in the eastern district of Nagpur had almost been suppressed. Thugee incidence was nil. There used to be gang robberies but these were committed by men beyond the frontiers. Yet dacoities continued to occur. Some cases of high way robberies were also reported. There was a paucity of affrays which showed that boundaries of land were not contested. Cases of cattle stealing and burglaries and theft were large in numbers. Forgery and false coining cases had decreased considerably.
Comparing the crime situation of Nagpur territory during the Bhonsale period with that of British Raj, Richard Temple observed. "It is a general opinion of those able to judge, that under British Rule violent offenses and offences against persons have decidedly decreased, the less aggravated of the offences have not decreased, and have probably some what increased". Prosecution of crime during this period was not quite successful on the whole. The ratio of acquittals to conviction was almost 50% showing defective enquiries by the police and undue harassment.
In 1859 a very daring attempt was made by some convicts to escape from Nagpur Jail by overpowering the guards. After meals at 5 p.m. the convicts instead of going to their barracks picked up sticks and stones near the mess, attacked the guards and tried to escape. In the scuffle, firing was resorted to ten convicts were killed and 21 were wounded. Some bodies of the convicts were also found in the water tank with no gunshot injuries.
Nagpur in the Mainstream of Indian Police Reforms: (1861 - 1902)
In 1861, a new Province viz. Central Province was carved out comprising. Nagpur Province, Sagar & Nurbada Territories along with certain other tracts with the capital at Nagpur. In 1860 Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code were enacted and the police were given powers to arrest any person without magisterial order or warrant, though there were checks of the magistrates and superior officers. Prichard and Cox and others were critical of one of the clauses of Penal Code, which enabled a magistrate or a police officer, to enter the name of a person in a list of bad characters. They observed that in point of practice, it was not difficult for a native who had a grudge against his neighbor to get his name entered in this list. "A refusal to lend a policeman money, or a determination of a man to keep his wife to himself, will not improbably result in the money lender's or the husband's name going down in the book of bad characters".
The revolt of 1857 had shown that Indian military could not be completely relied upon for the protection of British Empire. Further, the military could be concentrated only in a few centers and at best, be used to curb rebellions. The need was felt to develop a sense of fear of authority in the entire country. For this purpose a new country wide police system was considered essential to serve as the first line of internal defense. The Indian Police Act of 1861 came into existence as per the recommendations of the first Police Commission of Sir Napier. He postulated, "Soldiers are instituted to fight declared enemies, not to be watchers and punishers of criminals. They should be, in thought and reality, identified with their country's glory -- the proudest of their sons - and never employed to enforce at the behest of civil administration, until the civil power is found too weak..."
The reorganization of police in the province led to a huge savings. The irregular force was disbanded while some men were adjusted in the police force. Reorganized Police consisted of 1 Inspector General (IGP), 2 DIGs, 12 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 7 Asst. SPs, 10 Probationary officers, 45 Inspectors, 6284 foot constable and 613 mounted constables, totaling 6974 men of all ranks for the province. Population of the province was above 83 lakhs with an area of 1,11.800 Sq. miles, i.e. there was one police for 1191 inhabitants and to every 5 Sq. miles. Considerations of economy were given more importance than efficiency. There was a stringent control over expenditure on police force; even payment of daily allowance of two annas to police constables for escorting treasure or traveling on duty had to be sanctioned by the Chief Commissioners. It was in 1898 that the IGP wrote to the Chief Commissioner for delegating this power to him.
The Act had provided for Municipal Police. As per the recommendation of Police Commission, every city and town should pay for its own police. In C.P. there were 57 cities and towns which maintained Municipal Police without any aid from the regular establishment. They were paid from the local funds of municipal taxes, town duties and house tax. In Nagpur, Municipal Committee was established in 1864, but it did not have any say in the administration of police. Lord Ripon's Resolution on Local Self Government in 1883, spared the Municipal Committees and local bodies from financing the Police organization. Police now became the charge on Provincial Government's Treasury. Till now, the character of the police was described as Burkandazee Police, but hereafter great care was taken in proper recruitment and training. (The word Burkandaz is Persian, meaning gendarme). This word had fallen into disuse in Persia, but continued in India though a very small number of arms were entrusted to police and were found in effective even for escorting treasure and quelling disturbances. When conservancy services were started in Nagpur in 1873-74, its supervision work was entrusted to the City Police. This arrangement could not succeed for various reasons and therefore the work was entrusted to a DSP who organized sufficient propaganda to spread awareness amongst the public. The work was taken over by the Municipal Committee when they established their own Conservancy Department.
Nagpur City Police :
In the reorganization of police in 1861, there was one City Superintendent of Police or Kotwal appointed in Nagpur and was subordinate to the District Superintendent of Police along with 7 Inspectors, 7 Chief Constables and 18 Head Constable. Apart from these were 300 Police Sepoys. Proportion of Police in Nagpur to population was 1 for 402 souls. There were no police building worth the name. Kotwali was stationed in a part of Bankabai's old palace in Mahal. In the Nagpur District there were in all 7 station houses and 11 Thanas in different towns and villages. There were 35 Head Constables and 106 constables deployed in pickets of 4 to 10 constables in each place. The lowest salaries were Constable - Rs. 5, Head Constable Rs. 8 ¾, Chief Constable Rs. 20, European Constable - Rs. 50 and Inspector Rs. 65 p.m. Latter due to rising prices, the lowest grade of the constables on Rs. 5 was abolished and only two grades of Rs. 6 and 7 were maintained. In a memorandum of 1862, the IGP pointed out that when some 18 months back there were around 500 police and 400 Chaukidars, not a day had passed without thefts and hardly a week without one or more robberies of considerable magnitude. Yet, when the aggregate force was reduced to 300 men, crime was considerably less and there did not occur any robbery for months. The individuals retained in the reduced force were better paid and supervised. They developed considerable detective capacity and efficiency instead of conniving with the criminals. At the higher level, the IGP drew a pay of Rs. 1800, DIG-Rs.1000, DSPs-500 to 800 and Asst. Supdts.- Rs. 350. Thus there was a difference of 360 times between the salaries of the lowest and the highest police officials!
Recruitment :
In 1862, when the reorganization took place, many people from the military having no knowledge of police duties were inducted. The first IGP Col. Taylor said that except old Zilla Police, "everyone had everything to learn" superior officers were recruited by nomination, seconded by army and simple examination. In 1865, competitive examination was started. For Inspectors and Chief Constables the necessary qualification was good knowledge of drill. Further a good knowledge of Urdu was required as the official documents were written in Urdu and Persian characters though the local languages were Marathi and Hindi. This anomaly was removed only in 1871-72. Educational development started late in the province, so well educated people were not available. Only rich people were educated and were the last to choose police as their career.
The pay of higher subordinate grades was enhanced in 1884 to attract better educated men. Inspectors were now to receive Rs. 100, 150 and 200 as per three grades respectively. Competitive examinations were held for the recruitment of Inspectors and horse riding was one of the essential qualifications. Sub-Inspector's salary enhanced in 1891 was Rs. 50, 60 and 80 respectively for three grades. Every Inspector and Head Constable in charge of a Station House were required to keep a horse or serviceable pony. An interesting order was passed in 1872, which read", It has come to my knowledge that some of the Head Constables and even constables are in the habit of riding when they are sent upon duty, instead of walking as they are intended to. This practice leads to many abuses, such as Head Constables aping and posing themselves off to the country people as Chief Constable, demands on the villages for forage, taking orderlies to look after their animals, general laziness and other improprieties".
There were difficulties in finding recruits for lower police cadre also. Many of the Chief Constables and Head Constables were uneducated but promoted for their good performance. Col. Taylor wrote in 1869. "The weak point in our present police administration is the want of intelligent, well educated Chief Constables, for on this class of officials depends more than any other, the well being and efficiency of the force". A chain of police schools were opened at District headquarters where policemen were also taught to read and write and to understand their simple duties. Village school curriculum was introduced in police schools and those unable to pass were given 'school cut' in their salaries. In 1864 the Judicial Commissioner had passed an order that by law, the Chief Constables alone should send the cases and witnesses straight to the magistrates and not prepared by the DSPs. This created a problem for the illiterate Constables and so emphasis was given to educate them. Even then, they used to place themselves in the hands of the moharirs which was also illegal . From 1863, five Boy Orderlies between the ages of 12 to 17 were appointed in the 4 cities including Nagpur on Rs. 3 p.m. by reducing the strength of 10 constables, so as to prepare them for police service. The DSPs were to look after their school studies as well as police training. Normal schools were started at Nagpur and Sagar and for promotion passing the examination was made necessary.
Lt. Bradshaw, DSP Nagpur had the following remarks to make on the problem of recruitment. "It has been hitherto considered impossible to enlist inhabitants of the district at all and this, together with the constant pressure of duty, which has made it necessary to fill up vacancies with all possible speed, has left no choice but to enlist the first men who offer themselves. There are crowds of men, the scorings apparently of the northern provinces who hang about police officers looking for employment, their sale qualification being that they have served in former Police Battalions. These are the men who use the public service as the means for the saving of a few rupees, and then tender their resignations in numbers so large as to call for remarks by the Government of India."
Despite circular letters from the State Government to appoint local people for constable's 2 posts, the practice of appointing north Indians (domiciled in Nagpur) in a large number has continued. Men coming from north India used to resign their jobs due to refusal of home leave, infliction of punishment or irksome duties or even for getting married in their home towns. In 1886,121 men resigned from Nagpur District Police to get married as ordained by their horoscopes!
The problem of recruiting local people into constabulary continued and at times recruiting parties were sent to Rajputana and elsewhere to get men for police employment in 1920s and 30s.Sub-Inspectors (PSI) with matriculation were appointed after competitive examinations, but even the Head Constables were promoted since PSIs were not coming in sufficient numbers. DSPs used to be Europeans inducted largely from military or other services. Competitive examinations were held in England for Asst. Superintendents and allotted to the Provinces since 1893. ("Imperial Police" i.e. IP was the precursor to the present day Indian Police Service, i.e. IPS).
Training:
Some military training had all through been insisted, though there was a consistent opinion against recruitment of military men in this department. Every member of the District Foot Police was required to be thoroughly acquainted with Infantry Drill. A manual was prepared for the purpose. However the Chief Commissioner was against the excess of Drill. He did not want the Constables to be slovenly or untidy but regarded successful prosecution of crime and knowledge of criminal procedure as being of importance. A training School initially established at Sagar for training of Head Constables and Inspectors, had to be closed as the offices could not be spared for training. In 1869 two schools were established to train Moharirs - one at Nagpur in Marathi and the other at Sagar in Urdu. These schools also had to be soon wind up. For some time, officers were sent to Allahabad for training.
Establishment of Different Branches:
As per the exigencies of time different branches of police were started.
Railway Police : Policing problems in the railways then, run by the private companies, was a ticklish problem considered by Commissions after Commissions. The IGP of the Province had pointed out some abuses by the Company's private police and limitations to deal with them since the regular police had been excluded from the railway stations. The problem of law and order and punishment to the criminals was the problem of the state and looking after the safety of railway property and watch and ward was the problem of the railways. Regular police were deputed on railway stations under the control of DSPs. On 1st Feb 1867, a separate force for the Province was organized with 1 Inspector, 1 European Constable, 99 Indian Constables exclusive of train police guards. Main forms of crime on the railways during the earlier period were pick pocketing, thefts and burglary.
Dacoity Agency : Since dacoity was the most serious problem of the province, especially in the North, special Dacoity Agency was created in 1863, with two Indian Officers and a small establishment to hunt out the dacoits. A European Officer was added later. In 1864, 91 professional dacoits were captured by the Agency's operations and the incidence of dacoity decreased considerably. Highway robberies continued although police posts were increased on trunk roads. Burglary and theft instances also increased and a lame excuse was given that it was given to improved reporting. In 1869, due to famine, cognizable offences had almost registered an increase of 153% to that of 1868. Yet the strength of Police was reduced steadily from 1866 onwards mainly because of the necessity to pay better within the limits laid down by the Government.
Detectives : In ancient India, the spy system was considered to be the eyes of the rulers and was much perfected. The British Govt. had encouraged informers, but curiously, no regular employment and institutionalization of detectives had been considered in many provinces. The CP was an exception due to the appointment of General Supdt. of Thugee, a branch operating in Nagpur Province and later in CP Even in England such a department was started later in 1878. In CP, the staff recruited for the purpose was substandard. A few men from existing staff were selected and were kept under the eye of the DSP They enjoyed certain privileges. A European officer was added in 1864. In working of the Department, system of approvers in the jails was utilized to a considerable degree and gangs of dacoits and cattle thieves were identified and eliminated. This was the predecessor of Criminal Investigation Dept. established afterwards. In Wardha District, women detectives were tried with some success. This Dept. partly developed into the Special Branch in 1887 when the Govt. of India directed that a special branch should be formed in each province due to disturbed conditions and rise of political consciousness in the country.
Thus Nagpur can be considered as the birth place of CID in India and possibly even in the British empire. Special Armed Force: Times were changing fast and the country was entering into the period of agitations. Public life in the city was taking a great leap towards modernization and political awareness. Crime situation was also worsening due to rising prices, droughts and epidemics. Although the Police Commission of 1860 had suggested creation of this reserve force, it was only in 1889, that the scheme was implemented in 6 cities of C.P. to deal promptly and effectively with tumults and local disturbances without involving the military. A total strength of 250 men was distributed in the cities, armed with breech loading, artillery carbines, replaced by Snyder rifles in 1895.
Nagpur Grain Riots : The first test of the Special Armed Force in Nagpur was at the time of Grain riots involving Koshti community of the city. 1896-97 was the famine year and cumulative effect of successive bad years of monsoon had pushed the grain prices very high. Juar was selling almost 28 lbs and rice 18 lbs i.e. approx. 12.7 and 8 kg. per rupee in Sep. 1896. Weavers community had lost employment due to famine and the British policy of import of foreign cloth. The grain shops in the city were looted and violence continued for 3-4 days when the police had to bring in the reserves and later the army and resort to firing. More than 75 shops were looted in the City. About a dozen people died at 'Golibar Chauk'. Villages and towns in the district were also affected by the riots.
Police administration during 1890 and 1903 was directed towards consolidation of the British rule. Hence a regular system of recruitment of European officers for higher posts, amendments in the IPC and Cr. P C. as well as arrangements for collection and dissemination of political intelligence were undertaken.
Nagpur Police after 1903 :
The crime situation in the country including the City of Nagpur, was worse in the late nineties due to famine, rising prices and epidemics. A direct relationship between the worsening economic conditions and rise in crime figures was evident; the crime was much less in the years of good monsoon. To meet the challenge of crime Second Indian Police Commission was appointed by the Govt. of India under the chairmanship of H L Fraser, the then Chief Commissioner of CP, Lord Curzon had urged the provincial governments to have Criminal Investigation Departments due to rising political agitations and revolutionary activities in the country challenging the British rule. This was one of the important terms of reference before the Commission. The intention was to create an effective intelligence machinery for political purposes. He directed that collation and distribution of information should be entrusted to a European or Eurasian staff "who would prove more trustworthy than Natives in confidential work". The proposal of associating two Indian Assistants in the central cm was objected by the Secretary of State. Fidelity of the native police was thus in doubt as it was feared that they might help the freedom fighters. The CID remained mainly preoccupied with political work while its function concerning special forms of crime remained negligible.
Criminal Investigation Department :
CID branch was established in 1906 with one DIG and one Superintendent as in-charge of the new Department. It had 3 branches: Special Branch, Finger Print Bureau and Investigation Branch. The staff included 7 Inspectors, 10 Sub Inspectors, 18 Head Constables and 16 Constables. They were largely employed in office duties in Special Branch and the Finger Print Bureau. A DSP was attached soon for special enquiries. In 1910 a new branch was created to collate and publish a weekly Criminal Intelligence Gazette. The subordinate police, officers failed to make sufficient use of finger print system and the intelligence published in the weekly gazette. Hence publication of the gazette was stopped in 1913. In 1917 a post of DIG for Crime and Railways was created. A Photography Section started. Since 1921 selected officers from CID were sent to Howrah Detective Training School for acquiring technical knowledge. Politicians felt so much harassed by the CID that a resolution was moved in the C P & Berar Legislative Council in 1923 for its down sizing. Yet, its services were of immense use to investigate dacoity, administration of stupefying drugs, smuggling of liquor and charas, counterfeit coins, heavy house-breaking, swindling, cheating and trafficking in women. A small staff of police officers was posted in dry Districts under the direct control of DSPs in 1938. A special District investigating agency was created to lighten the work of HQ CID. For, so called, economy and expansion needed in the CID, 150 posts of Sub-Inspectors in the Province were reduced to those of Asst. Sub-Inspectors and a net-work of CID Branches was organized in 19 Districts and 7 sub-divisions, to watch political movements. It was only after independence that well educated Inspectors got appointed in this Department.
Credit must be given to the cm for unearthing some grave crimes like those of Rohila dacoits, Wadar Gangs. criminal gangs in Berar, Sui poisoning of cattle and human beings , counterfeit coins received in Railways, Delhi Bomb Case, the cotton and fire insurance frauds and the intricate forgery and cheating cases etc.
The institution of Criminal Intelligence Bureau was created in 1918 to deal with the collation and indexation. The card index system keeping classified names of criminals, criminal, crimes and modus operations maintained by the Bureau were of immense use, In 1942, Special Branch of the CID was created to cover 'subversive movements'. Freedom movement was at its peak in the forties and was sufficiently broad based. District Machinery in the form of a District Intelligence staff was set up with an Asst. IGP at Nagpur to coordinate work and assist the District Staff. Local Intelligence Staff was posted under DSPs but administrative control remained with the Special Branch, At Divisional HQ. Area Officers were appointed to inspect the staff and coordinate activities.
"Core of the problem of CID was that division of labour between the executive branch and the investigation branch had led to a division of interest. Clearing up of crime was so much more satisfying and concrete than preventing hypothetical wrong doing, but the detection side had overshadowed prevention, and in prestige if not in performance, the CID had outstripped the uniform branch. Not unnaturally there had been a spli1 between the two factions, a split which in a few forces was grievous. A pertinent question was raised whether there should be a separate service of investigation, a service with which the uniform police would cooperate in some detached kind of way as with fire service".
Courtesy article in Nagpur city Tercentenary Souvenir 2003.
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