A brief history of Manipur Police
- Part 1 -

Waikhom Damodar Singh *

While the history of the Indian Police began only from the time of Lord Cornwallis, the Governor general of the British India in the year 1791 who then had their Capital at Calcutta, the history of the Manipur Police actually began from the period as old as the history of the State itself which had existed as an independent kingdom of her own from the time of the deitic king, Pakhangba in 33 AD and it was he who established institutions known as Cheirap (court, which was both judicial and executive), "Loisang Lois", "Patcha Phaida" (women's organisation) etc and began the policing system in the land.

The Cheirap consisted of officials known as Keirung Hanjabas-4 and Pana Lakpas-4 assisted by other members called "Loisang Loi". The Court tried summarily all cases except those of murder and high treason and could inflict all punishments except "death" sentences which were exclusively within the power of the king, who was also the highest appellate authority in the State.

As for the Patcha Phaida, the women's organisation, it consisted of 7 to 11 women members and had original jurisdiction over the cases in which women were involved. It was the sole duty of the Patcha Phaida to apprehend a woman on a specific charge on adultery, assault on women, kidnapping, rape etc. They were also responsible for peace and order in the women bazar.

The organisation of the Patcha Phaida can be called Women Police of those days. The highest form of punishment then inflicted on women charged with adultery was to carry the convict woman from place to place in the bazar after having shaved or tonsured her head and smeared with lime and turmeric (giving yellow colour).

Punishment of imprisonment of women convicts was unknown then and such a Women Police organisation existed quite effectively in the kingdom was unknown not only in any part of the then undivided India but also in any part of the world.

During the period from 111 to 663 AD there was no particular improvement with regard to the Police organisation in the State but in 664 AD during the time of the reign of Meidingngu (king) Naothing­khong, Keishumshang (Jail) was first established where convicts for heinous offences were imprisoned. For other offences only "corporal punishments" like whipping was inflicted.

In 1475 AD Meidingngu Kiyamba reigned in the kingdom and it was he who annexed the Kabow valley in Burma to his territory and opened 18 Police Outposts — at Bishenpur, Chakpi, Chattaik, Heituppokpi, Ingourok, Jiri, Keithel­manbi, Kampang, Kambiron, Kangbong, Karong, Kongal, Nashingha, Yaingangpokpi, Meithapham on the Burma side, Mayangkhang, Moreh and prowy in the bordering areas to regulate the import and export and particularly to check infiltration of foreigners.

Each of the OP was manned at least by one officer and ten sepoys. More important than the internal maintenance of law and order was their duty to collect intelligence about aggression from outside. During the reign of King Khagemba (1596-1651 AD) he reorganised the police force as well as the courts. Dolaipabas were appointed in place of Loisang Loi whose posts continued to be in existence till the integration of the State with the Indian Union.

It was during the reign of the great king Pamheiba—Garibniwaz (1709-1740 AD) that the Cheirap and Patcha Phaida who used to function so long only during the daytime were made to work in nights also. The strength of cheirap was also augmented —

• Keirung Hanjaba­ 4,
• Keirung Nahas - 4,
• Songkhubas - 4,
• Hanjaba - 1,
• Hidang - 1 and
• others.

The strength of the Patcha Phaida was also raised and the king had the direct control of the intelligence staff. During the reign of Maharaja Gambhir Singh from 1826 to 184 AD, as an important landmark in the history of the State Militia (State Military Police) an armed wing of the State civil forces was established. In 1833 AD Chandpur Thana which was in the Cachar District of Assam as the border outpost was shifted to the eastern bank of the Jiri river.

During the time of Maharaja, Chandrakirti Singh in the 19th century (1851 - 1886 AD) there was considerable improvement in the organisation and training of the State police force, a large column of which, under the command of Senapati Bir Tikendrajit Singh and General Thangal etc accompanied by the then British Political Agent of Manipur colonel Sir James Johnstone rescued a column of British force and personnel besieged in their garrison at Kohima—Khonoma, also called Thigomei-Thibomei by the Manipuris, by the local Angami Tribe revolters.

For the timely help extended Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh received profound gratitudes from the British Government and he was awarded the British title KCSI (Knight Commander Star of India) by way of recognition of his most valuable service rendered to them by the Manipuri columns as their good allies.

However, it was from the time of the British rule which commenced from 1891 onwards when they conquered the State after their decisive victory in the Anglo-Manipuri War that broke out in that year and began their more effective and organised administration under the charge of the Political Agent, Major Maxwell as the Superintendent of the State.

During the period of the minority of the newly installed king, Churachand Singh from 1891 to 1907 that the State Police set-ups began to exist on the patterns introduced in India by the British Government particularly on the pattern of the recommendations of the Police Commission set up in 1860 and of provisions of Police Act enacted thereafter in 1861 and came into force.

It began with a sanctioned strength of 1 Sub Inspector, 2 Head constables and 30 constables on the Civil Police side from January 1893.

One Arambam Ramlal Singh alias Meino Singh of Sagolband, Imphal, after the name of whom the lane there came to be known as "Sagolband Meino Leirak", was the first local officer who became the head of the State Police (and later on Shri Khomdram Dhanachandra Singh, officiating SP and from 1959 to 1965.

Shri Laishram Gopal Singh, the first directly recruited local Police officer in the gazetted rank (Dy SP) in 1949 who received his initial Police training at Assam Police Training College, Dergaon and who became the first local officer promoted to the IPS with 1952 seniority given and the Superintendent of the State as a whole as till then it was only a single district State which although had started having more districts from 1972/73 onwards during the time of Md Alimuddin as the Chief Minister.

to be continued...

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* Waikhom Damodar Singh wrote this article for The Sangai Expres . This article was webcasted on December 23rd, 2008.

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