The Discovery of Thuggee, Etawah 1809

Abstract

In a village in Northern India around 1800 the law was represented on the most basic level by the chaukidar, or village watchman, who was usually little more than a night watch.¹ The village itself came under the jurisdiction of a thana, or police post, in charge of a thanadar, senior police officer, who had in his command a number of daroghas, or police officers. Chaukidars were locals and often depended on the zamindars and villagers for their livelihood and for various reasons many crimes often remained unreported outside the village boundaries. Locally the daroghas and thanadars also had much leeway regarding the majority of petty crimes and minor offences, which they were authorised to deal with. Only in more serious cases, such as murder, affray or the theft of large sums would the thanadar report to the English district Magistrate. Within the individual districts the Magistrate would deal with all lesser criminal cases, while the Courts of Circuit touring the districts twice a year tried serious cases such as armed robbery and murder. Cases that could incur severe sentences or the death penalty were then referred to the high court or Nizamat Adalat at Calcutta where the sentences of the Courts of Circuit were either confirmed or reversed.