Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c8.s1.3

c8.s1.3

In the Vijayanagar days the police force was of two kinds, one maintained by the state, and the other maintained by the people, in their respective spheres. While the first was responsible to the government, the second was answerable to the people. There was also a special police at the capital, the organisation of which was almost similar to that of the government police in the outlying parts of the empire. These policemen were responsible for the preservation of peace and order and the detection of crimes within their jurisdiction. Speaking about their functions Abdur Razāk says: "The business of these men was to acquaint themselves with all the events and accidents that happen within the seven walls and to recover everything that is lost, or that may be abstracted by theft; otherwise they are fined."⁸¹ The Persian ambassador also notes how on one occasion they were punished for the theft that took place within their ward. He says thus: "Certain slaves which my companion had brought took to flight, and when the circumstances were brought to the Prefect, he ordered the watchmen of that quarter, where the poorest people dwelt, to produce them or pay the penalty; which last they did on ascertaining the amount."⁸² The same system is described by Nuniz. He says that if any one complained to the king that he was robbed in such and such a province and in such and such a road, the king sent immediately for the captain of that province even though he be at court, and the captain might be seized and his property taken if he did not catch the thief. He adds in the same way the Chief Bailiff was obliged to give an account of the robberies in the capital and in consequence very few thefts took place.⁸³ The Bailiff and the Prefect were different names of the same officer whom we may call in the modern political phraseology the Police Commissioner, the nāgarika of Kauṭalya.⁸⁴ In the days of Dēva Rāya II he had his office opposite the mint at the capital. Under him there were 12,000 policemen who were each paid by the government 30 paṇams per month.85