Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c11.14

c11.14

3. Suspects: Fifth Column Activities. Suspected characters and Fifth Column agents were held under check by a series of regulations. Wayfarers along highways (*pathikā mahāmārgachāriṇaḥ*) or by-paths (*utpathikā vivītapatha-chāriṇaḥ*), either within or outside the town, were charged with the civic responsibility of arresting suspects or undesirable persons frequenting temples and holy places, forests and crematories. Under this description came persons who suffered from suspicious wounds (*savraṇam*) or carried harmful implements such as house-breaking apparatus (*anīshṭopakaraṇam*), or were carrying a load beyond their capacity, or had a suspicious appearance, or were discovered sleeping beyond time (*atisvapnam*), too much fatigued from long journeys or were absolute strangers to the country. These signs marked out criminal persons.