Public Administration in Ancient India c13.26

c13.26

Allied with the Police Department was the Intelligence Department, which seems to have been under the direct control of one of the Ministers, usually the Collector-general. The ‘reporters’ helped the police in detecting criminals. They also gave the Ministers information regarding the loyal or disloyal feelings of the people, and kept them acquainted with the conduct of Government officials. They apprised the Ministers of the doings of foreign kings and of their intrigues within the kingdom. They were sometimes sent to foreign countries to win over the disaffected people. The ‘reporters’ worked under various disguises,—as recluses, ascetics, desperadoes, buffoons, commercial travellers, physicians, musicians, idiots, and lunatics.²