MYSORE: The State of Mysore renamed as Karnataka in 1973 has many firsts to its credit. It is known for having of well-established governments, a revenue system, the starting of the first representative assembly in the country to have a democratic form of government, introducing reservation for the underprivileged sections of society and having a progressive police force.
The post of the Inspector General of Police in the state has completed 125 years as per the appointment of the first IG in Mysore State on Nov 1, 1885. Lancelot Ricketts was appointed the first IGP but even before the post was created, the state of Mysore had good policing and an organisational set up.
The oldest police stations, the Mounted Police force, the police band and the intelligence department are centuries old.
Over the years, the vision of the Wodeyars , of Tipu Sultan and the dewans of erstwhile Mysore royal families had emphasised the strengthening of the police system in the state.
In 1868, there were 48 sepoys that comprised eight companies with four havildars, four naiks, one subadar and two jamdars and 36 bodygurads to protect the fort. In 1941, there were 554 persons with 478 Barr force or infantry, 26 artillery, 17 bagpipers and 33 miscellaneous personnel.
The Police Commissionerate was started in 1989 as 20 police stations, other than the Mounted Police and Police Band.
Though the duties of police under the rulers of Mysore were performed by Talawars, Totis, Nirganti, Kavalgars, kattabidi peons, Halepaikas, Umblidars, Amargars, Hulagavals, Ankamalas and kalla Kormaras who formed the militia and patels who supervised them.
There was kandachar department with the people to perform the policemen duty. These people were rushed in cases of casualty, emergencies and also during the civil probelms.
The first police station
Tipu Sultan, realising the importance of the Police Department, strengthened it and make it parallel to military force. Knowing that the soldiers were trained to guard his fort, he thought that a separate police force needed to be strengthened to interact and build rapport with the common man that would also be pro-active in the welfare of its people. The police was also used to support the military during the crisis, and was used to gather intelligence reports.
Outpost at Sringeri, Parakala Mutt
He also went on to open the first ever police station in Ganjam, now known as the Old Police Station Road with a few policemen. It is now called the New Police Station, Ganjam , in Srirangapatna town, on the banks of Cauvery. Tipu ordered permanent police outpost at Sri Sringeri mutt, Sringeri, and Parakal Mutt in Mysore that continues till date. The end of Tipu’s regime in 1799 was followed by moving of the capital from Sriranagapatna to Mysore and coronation of Mumadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. He too continued to focus on encouraging policing in the state.
The coronation of Chamaraja Wodeyar, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar and the Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar saw different phases of reforms and development. Dewan Poornia introduced kandachar peons for doing the work of police.
In 1856, a judicial commissioner was appointed and he became the ex-officio head of police. The British that failed to handle the First War of Independence in 1857, appointed a commission to bring in reforms in the police in 1860. It also created the Inspector General of Police’s post in 1861.
Kille Cutcherry
After the settlement of 1868, the sepoy establishment retained for palace work from the old Barr Cutcherry came to be called as the Kille Cutcherry. They were intended to guard the fort and the palace and escort as body guards.
The Delhi Flag presented to Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar by the viceroy in 1877 and the Royal Personnel flag were under the custody of the Kille Cutcherry.
In 1879, the chief commissioner was in charge of the police. The rendition of the police administration was under the control of the dewans. Later, a police secretary was appointed . In 1906, the posts of superintendents and assistant superintendents of police were merged with the general cadre of assistant commissioner.
By 1910, the police force in Mysore consisted of village and regular police.
The new infantry battalion was formed from the existing troupes of the Kille Lacheri and Jilla kachero of the palace troops. The kille kacheri Bakshi was redesignated as the military bakshi. The Maharaja’s own infantry came under the military department from Jan 29, 1949, after integration of Mysore State Forces with the Indian Army.
The Maharaja’s body guards were placed under the station commander.
The Police Band
An English band was entertained in the Palace Establishment from the days of Krishnaraja Wodeyar at the settlement from 1868. The band was merged with Kille Kacheri. In 1903, it was again formed into an independent branch with a band master. The band that use to play at Neshat Bagh in Mysore, Lal bagh and the market square in Bangalore and during garden parties by the royal family at Bangalore and Ooty, Sakaleshpur during the visit of viceroys, and the top brass. The palace band, including the Indian orchestra and the English band) with excellent training and proficiency was attached to the new unit of Mysore Armed Reserve Police Palace Guards and came under the IGP from 1951.
The bodyguards
The Maharaja’s Bodyguards were merged with the Kille Kacheri in 1901. They were redesignated commandants and were based at the building in Eragere Bagal on the road to Srirangapatna.
The men trained in mounted drill, sword and lance exercises and military sports. They had singnalling sections and escorted Maharajas on important occasions. These bodyguards were deputed to have close watch on temples, shrines, palaces, chamundihill and others spots and were brought under the Military Department in January 1949.
Prisons
The erstwhile Mysore state had eight prisons and the Bangalore central jail was constructed in 1863. One more central jail was constructed in Mysore other than lock-ups. There were also jails in Hyderabad- Karnataka, Mumbai- Karnataka and Dakshina Kannada. There were also two training schools. The then government spent money on prisoners, basic facilities at prisons and salaries of prison staff.
Police Stations
The Lashkar, Mandi Mohalla and Nalappa police stations are the oldest police stations in Mysore city. It was followed by the police station at Jalapuri, which is now the SP office. The Lakshmipuram police station will be completing one hundred years.
Mounted police
The Karnataka Armed Reserve Police ( Mounted Police) or the Mounted Company of Palace Guards was formed out of the non-Indian State Forces of Maharaja Palace Body Guard in 1951.
Prior to this, these palace guards were personal security guards of the royal family. These guards were entrusted with additional security work at religious places inside the palace. They were trained in equestrian excellence like track jumping, musical rides, tent pegging and other skills.