CALCUTTA POLICE

 Calcutta is the only city which has its own police force in India.

Unlike other cities whose police (like Mumbai Police, Hyderabad Police, or Bengaluru Police) is part of the state police, Calcutta police have its own cadre and organisation. Calcutta police are not part of the West Bengal Police. The Calcutta Police is a completely separate legal and administrative entity from the West Bengal Police.
Calcutta police reports directly to the Home Department of West Bengal while the WB police reports to the Director General of Police (DGP) of the State. The CP is also an Executive Magistrate, allowing the force to issue prohibitory orders (like Section 144) and handle licenses without needing a District Magistrate's approval.
Raised in 1845, the separation is a legacy of the British colonial era. Because Calcutta was the capital of British India until 1911, it was modeled after the London Metropolitan Police based on the Patton Committee recommendations. The British wanted the city's law enforcement to be independent of the "mofussil" (rural/provincial) police to ensure the capital remained under tight, direct control.
The Governor-General promulgated an Act in 1856 that formally treated the Calcutta Police as a separate organization. The Calcutta Police Act, 1866 and the Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866 were passed. These remain the legal bedrock of the force today, granting the Commissioner unique powers.
Ranks like Sergeant and Sergeant-Major are still used in Kolkata, a direct carry-over from the British colonial structure. In most Indian states, a "Sergeant" doesn't exist; it's usually "Head Constable." In Calcutta, a Sergeant is a direct-entry rank equivalent to a Sub-Inspector, primarily focused on law and order and traffic—another remnant of the London Metropolitan influence.
The Calcutta mounted police have ranks of Risaldar Major(Inspector), Risaldar(junior inspector), Dafadar(head Constable) etc in line with the Cavalry regiments.
The Calcutta Mounted Police was established in 1840 with just two sowars under a "Dafadar" to carry messages from the Governor General to the port. By the time of the 1866 Calcutta Police Act, the unit was expanded to patrol the "Maidan" (the vast open parkland around Fort William). Because the Maidan was essentially a military precinct, the Mounted Police needed to maintain a level of discipline and appearance that matched the cavalry regiments stationed at the Fort. The horses themselves are often Thoroughbreds or Marwaris, maintained with the same rigor as an army remount depot.
Calcutta police adopted the white uniform, while all other police forces have khaki as the uniform. In 1847, Sir Harry Lumsden introduced khaki for the Punjab Frontier Force, and it eventually became the national standard. However, the Calcutta Police rejected the shift, choosing to maintain their traditional white as a mark of their separate identity.
In 2018, Howrah Police, specifically the Howrah Police Commissionerate, officially adopted a white uniform for officers and constables up to the rank of Inspector, to match the Calcutta Police uniform.
The IPS cadre officers however, continue to wear their standard Khaki uniform, with assistant commissioners and higher ranks still wearing khaki.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  CROSSING "THE THIN RED LINE" The "Thin Red Line" often means the final boundary or division between order and chaos, or between good and evil. It is also used to denote a limit beyond which someone must not go without facing severe consequences. It suggests the idea of a physical boundary marking the limits between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. The expression is part of the English language vocabulary. However, there is a military origin to this phrase which goes back to the British Crimean War, particularly the Balaklava Campaign. Though the Balaklava Campaign became infamous for one of the most infamous blunders in military history, the Charge of the Light Brigade, made immortal by Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of h...
Read more
Image
  ঢেমনা, ঢ্যামনা(ḍhēmanā, ḍhyāmanā) In Bengali this word commonly is used as a slang to denote an idiot, Someone is very bad and ugly, lewd or illegitimate. Oft used when there is a verbal fight and one is trying to insult the other person In reality, ঢেমনা, ঢ্যামনা is the non poisonous Oriental rat snake মাকাল(Makal) Common Bengali slang used as an insult to denote a person completely bereft of any good qualities, useless fellow etc In reality Makal is a type of fruit, specifically the bitter snake gourd (Trichosanthes bracteata). Bitter Snake Gourd is valued for its ornamental flowers and unique fruit used in traditional medicine and as a vegetable in some cultures, although the fruit is very bitter. The fruit of bitter snake gourd, is considered poisonous. It contains toxic compounds like cucurbitacins, which can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested. While the plant is used in traditional medicine, caution is advised due to its toxicity. বুড়ো ভাম বুড়ো ভাম(Buro Bham) in Be...
Read more
Image
  GHOSTS AND SPIRITS IN BENGALI CULTURE Like the wide variety of Shaak/Saag, Bengali eats virtually any green leaf converting it into a Shaak/Saag Like the wide variety of fish in Bengali cuisine Bengali culture has a wide variety of Bhoot Shakhchunni is a ghost of a married woman, who died young and had a lot of unfulfilled wishes and desires. The name Shakchunni derives from the word "Shankha Churni" or one who has shattered Shankha(bangles). A Bengali married woman wears a red Pola(coral) and white Shankha(sea shell) bangle. Petnis are the spirits of unmarried women and are said to inhabit marshy areas, near ponds and lakes. The name originates from the female form of the Sanskrit word "Pret" meaning Ghost, thus "Pretni" Daaini are old hags who practice black magic and live in a secluded area. They are rumoured to abduct children and turn them into animals. Mecho bhoot is a ghost which loves fish. They are said to live in ponds with lots of fish and it ...
Read more