History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c12.156

c12.156

The Kotwāl was an important officer of police. This office had existed under Balban and ‘Ala-al-Din. Malik-al-Umra Fakhr-al-Din, Kotwāl of Dihli, played an important part in the politics of his time and ‘Ala-al-Mulk, the Kotwāl of Dihli, was consulted frequently by ‘Ala-al-Din about public affairs. The Kotwāl exercised the functions of a Justice of the Peace and had great influence with the people at large, being the custodian of peace and order. Another important officer of municipal police was the muhatsib who is mentioned by Barani, Ibn Batūtah and the author of the Masālik. His chief duty was to control the market, to examine the weights and measures, and watch the conduct of the people. Besides the police officers, the Sultan had in his service a large number of spies. They reported to him all that happened in his dominion. There were manhis or spies of different grades who mixed with the army and the civil population and reported all that the people did and said. They submitted their reports to their superior officer who in turn sent them to his superior officers and in this way they finally reached the Sultan.⁵⁷ These intelligencers were very active, because the Sultan was anxious to know the position of all those who surrounded him.⁵⁸ At the house of amirs big or small there was a royal slave who informed the Sultan of all their doings. Similarly maidservants were employed in the harams of the nobles whose duty it was to inform the sweeper women of what happened in the private apartments, and who in their turn communicated this information to the chief officer of the Criminal Intelligence Department. This officer reported all matters to the Sultan and kept him informed of the movements of 'Ain-al-Mulk Multani on the eve of his rebellion.⁵⁹ The fear of the spies was great, and even the highest officers felt afraid of them.⁶⁰ Great care was taken to acquire full information about the foreigners. When a foreigner came into the country, the *Akhbār nawis* or news-recorders entered in their registers a description of his appearance and dress and the number of his companions, servants and beasts. His movements and actions were carefully watched, and in due course reported to the Sultan. The office corresponded to some extent to the *Wāqa'nawis* of the Mughals.