Bhandari Militia

The Bhandari Militia was the first paramilitary police unit of the Bombay Presidency in the early period of the reign of the English East India Company. It consisted, not always under this name from 1672 to 1800. You was dissolved as a civilian unit was established with the Bombay City Police.

Early History

A first troupe was established by Gerald Aungier shortly after Charles II had the island of Bombay, which he had received as dowry, 1668 ceded to the East India Company. These were still marked at a time when the British primarily activities of commercial 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 themselves free. First, the local garrison should be supported by the 5-600 man who police duties but were added soon. The three companies, at least met once a month for training consisted mostly of Portuguese -Indian half-breeds (black christians ) and Bhandaris ( Contemporary: bandareens ), members of a local landowning caste Hindu. The Court of Directors from london arranged Josiah Child under resolution 1682 was not, as the revolt of Shivaji broke out. The band supported the bloodless mutiny in 1683 by Captain Robert Keigwin, who drove the company for one year from Bombay.

1694-1770

The bad night security situation on the island necessitated regular patrols, for the first 20 men were turned off. At that time, the court system was still in development. Although was an employee of the company Chief Justice, but he had just as little as the legal president ( chief judge ) expertise. All 13 members of his Council were also justice of the peace. The sheriff and lower court officials, the so-called Vereadores won after 1726 increasingly wider powers. 1769-1771, there was a judicial and police reform.

1771-1800

Under Brig.- Gen. David Wedderburn was reorganized the Bhandari Militia in a battalion with 48 officers and 400 men. Each quarter of the troops was distributed to three items, in use at night. In addition there were 20 selected by the Portuguese Vereadores of the propertied classes. For residents of the compulsory passports were introduced. The militiamen were fishing premiums for runaway ( Negro ) slaves, drunken sailors, etc.

From 1776 it began to be carried out patrols of the sepoys. However, since the security situation outside the city wall did not improve, James death on February 17, 1779 to the newly created post of Lieutenant of Police was appointed. In the course of the following year he designed the first police regulations on the model adopted for the 1778 Calcutta, which came into force on April 17, 1780. Tod's position was changed in the same month in Deputy of Police with an annual salary of Rs 3000 and wide-ranging powers as the court Mr. He was joined first 24 gendarmes. Death of his duties had been widely criticized, was convicted in 1790 and dismissed for corruption. The militia now consisted of a secretary, four NCOs ( havildar ) and 86 sepoys, for the composite monthly 318 Rs were spent.

After the English style in 1793 a Commission of Peace furnished with additional justices of the peace. The judiciary was reformed by the Cornwallis Code. The post of police chief, with circumcised skills, has been renamed to the Superintendent of Police. The first incumbent to 1808 was Simon Halliday. Located outside the city walls were areas in 1800 divided into 14 districts, whose stations were ordered ( Chauki ) by two gendarmes and were subordinate bringing together 130 special constables. This became the basis of the Bombay City Police, the militia was disbanded.