POLICE REGULATIONS, BENGAL. PART 18

CHAPTER XI.

Special Armed Force.

EMERGENCY FORCE GUARDS AND ESCORTS.

672. At the headquarters of every district except the Railway Police districts there shall be a Special Armed Force which shall pro- vide Q) an emergency force at headquarters, (ii) an emergency force at selected subdivisions, (iii) guards and (iv) escorts. It shall include armourers, buglers and the casualty reserve separately calculated on a variable percentage of the total number of head constables and constables of the Special Armed Force sanctioned for the district.
673. (a) The Special Armed Force shall be constituted by drafts from the ordinary police of the district out of which as many men as possible shall pass through this force for training, but in posting men Superintendents shall see that those who are unsuitable by physique or any other reason are not drafted into this force. All members of the district force are liable to a term of service in this force for a period of two years at a time and no one shall be kept there for more than this period at a stretch against his will) except under the orders of the Range Deputy Inspector-General. A constable may if he so desires volunteer for permanent service in the Special Armed Force. These orders do not apply to districts, where the Special Armed Force is constituted of Gurkhas and Garhwalis who shall not serve in other departments of the district force. In other districts, the proportion of the armed force to consist of Gurkhas, Garliwalis and Punjabis shall from time to time be fixed by the Inspector-General and the members of these classes, not being qualified for police-station duties, etc., shall not serve in other departments of the district force.

(b) Constables during their period of service in the Special Armed Force shall draw a special pay of Rs.2 per mensem.

674. (a) All available force at headquarters shall be drilled every morning except Thursday and on holidays. The Superintendent shall prepare a weekly programme of the drill and exercises, including games, to be performed each day, and of the instructional and other lectures to be given. Riot drill shall be practised frequently and route marches undertaken occasionally. When outdoor work is impracticable, indoor instruction in the treatment of arms and ammunition should be substituted.

(b) Muster parades shall be held once a week at all district and subdivisional headquarters, which shall be attended by all available officers. The day and hour for these parades shah be fixed by the Superintendent at district, and by the Subdivisional Police Officer or Circle Inspector at subdivisional headquarters.

675. A portion of the Special Armed Force shall always remain in readiness at the headquarters lines or at subdivisions for dealing with the local disturbances. This shall be known as the “emergency force”. it shall always remain up to full strength, the personnel will be found from the Special Armed Force and each officer shall take his turn of guard, escort or other duty as occasion requires. The actual number of officers allotted for the emergency force shall always be actually present at headquarters unless a party is specially permitted to be absent with the sanction in writing of the District Magistrate. If frequent reductions have to be made in the strength of the emergency force, the Fact shall he reported to the Deputy Inspector-General of the Range.
676. Superintendents and Additional Superintendents should, when at headquarters, attend parade in uniform at least once a week and their Assistant and Deputy Superintendent at least twice a week. Their attendances shall be noted by their initials, against the heading “Actually on parade” in the morning report. Superintendents are responsible that the force is properly instructed and trained in all items of police drill.
677. Officers below the rank of Inspector belonging to the Un-armed Police who may, for any reason, be temporarily at headquarters, shall be under the Armed Inspector and subject to the same routine and discipline as officers of the Special Armed Force.
678. All Sergeants of the Bengal Police shall be deemed to be of the rank of Sub-Inspector for the purpose of the exercise of any power which has been declared under the provisions of the Bengal Public Gambling Act, 1867 (Bengal Act II of 1867), as subsequently amended, and the Bengal Excise Act, 1909 (Bengal Act V of 1909), as subsequently amended to be exercisable by a police officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector
679. (a) The officers named below are competent to indent for guards escorts for the purpose of guarding or escorting prisoners, lunatics or treasure, currency notes, etc., opium, liquor in bond, and other valuable property of the Crown:—

Commissioners,

Judges.

The Registrar, High Court, Dacca (on pay day).

The Secretary, Board of Revenue, Government of East Bengal, Dacca.

Accountant General, East Bengal, Dacca. Magistrate of Districts.

Assistant Secretary, Communication, Buildings and Irrigation Department of East Bengal, Dacca (for escort of treasure only).

Settlement Officers (escorts only).

Subdivision al Magistrates

Munsifs.

Divisional Forest Officer and Range Officers of the Sundarban Forest Division (for the purpose of escorting remittances from Forest Ghat, Khulna, to the State Bank of Pakistan Rhulna).

Executive Engineers (for escort of treasure only).

Assistant Manager of the Pakistan Government Press, Tejgaon, Dacca.

Superintendents of Jails.

Officers-in-charge of Treasuries.

Subdivisional Officers, Telegraphs.

The Divisional Forest Officers and the Range Officers, Chittagong Hill-tracts Division (for escort of treasure only).

Resident Engineers of Electric Supply Cos. at Chittagong Rhulna, Chandpur, Brabmanbaija and Rajshahj (for escorting money from office to the local Treasuries or Banks).

Assistant Collector of Central Excise and Land Customs in East Pakistan (for the purpose of transporting gold and other valuables from the respective districts to Dacca as and when necessity arises).

Land Customs Officer, .Benapole, Jessore (for escort of treasure and valuable seized goods from Benapole to Jessore and vice-versa once a month only).

The Manager of the Branches of the National Bank of Pakistan (br the purpose of escorting remittances from the Branches of the National Bank of Pakistan in the districts of Chittagong, Tippera and Mymensingh to the State Bank of Pakistan, Dacca).

The Manager of the Branches of the National Bank of Pakistan (for the purpose of escorting remittances from the Branches of the National Bank of Pakistan in the districts of Dacca and Tippera to the State Bank of Pakistan, Dacca).

(b) If any officers ask for guards or escorts that are not provided for by these regulations, they shall be informed that they must obtain the sanction of the Provincial Government through the head of their department without which the required guards or escorts cannot be furnished.

680. (a) Instructions for giving notice to postmasters of escorts passing between stations and headquarters will be found in regulation 241.

(b) In special cases when large sums have unexpectedly to be sent to any office the head of the local post office may ask the Superintendent for a special escort, and when this can be given without interfering with other work it shall be supplied without payment. It must, however, be distinctly understood that this regulation confers no right to indent for escort.

681. (a) If the number of men available for duty in the lines permits, Superintendents, when requested, shall supply one or two constables to Magistrates and Commissioners to guard their houses during their absence from headquarters.

• If the District Magistrate so desires, a guard of one head constable and six constables shall accompany him on the occasion of his visits to the interior . Such a force is intended as a guard of honour for the chief executive officer of a district, as well as for court purposes and the custody of under-trial prisoners, and no special sanction is necessary. A similar guard shall be supplied to the Divisional Commissioner when on tour at a district or subdivisional headquarters. At other places no guard shall be supplied unless he desires it. Intimation of the Commissioner’s desire for a guard will be sent by him. to the. Superintendent in sufficient time to allow for the deputation of the guard.
• Any guard required for the custody of under-trial prisoners with Magistrates in camp shall be supplied by the police.

682. Officer of the Communications and Works Department, when marching or in camp on public duty, shall be allowed a police guard without charge, for the protection of public property, on the application of an officer not below the rank of Executive Engineer Such guard shall. not be supplied unless the officer travelling is in charge of Government money or valuable Crown property, or unless the country is disturbed.
683. (a) With the sanction of the Provincial Government police guards may be supplied to railways under construction.

When guards are supplied to a railway at its own request for the performance of duties which are not part of the ordinary functions of the police, their cost shall be charge to the railway.

(b) Railway bridges, in common with other railway goods and premises, will ordinarily be protected by watchmen in the employ of the railway concerned. In the event of the replacement of these watchmen by police guards—

• when the services of the police guards are placed at the disposal of the railway at the request of the railway administration, the cost of the guards will fall upon the railway;
• if the substitution is made on general ground of State policy and the service is taken over by the police as part of its regular duties, the charges will fall upon the Provincial Government and will be debited to police.

684. Guards supplied to railways and other parties shall be employed only in the district in which they are supplied, as the Superintendent is responsible for their behaviour and inspection Should the party to whom a guard has been supplied desire its transfer, to another district, it may be transferred as required. The Superintendent of the district to which it is transferred shall then furnish the force and arrange for the proper inspection of the guard.
685. The following are the rules for the guidance of armed guards, applicable to guards over treasuries and magazines. A translation of these rules into the vernacular spoken by the police, shall be hung up in a conspicuous place where the officers on duty can see and study them.

NOTE. —The rules shall be considered applicable, as far as possible to all guards over prisoners, treasures, arms, ammunition, or other property or persons.

• For each sentry posted, there must be specific orders by the Superintendent defining (i) the sentry’s beat and front, (ii) the position of the guard when it is required to fall in and (iii) the distance at which intruders are to be challenged.

NOTE.—Where the guard room is at some distance from the sentry’s beat the Superintendent shall arrange for a separate sentry over the guard.

• When a sentry, who is to be posted at a new post has reached the post assigned to him, he shall be ordered to halt and face in the required direction. The officer posting the sentry shall then read and explain the orders to him, telling him the object for which he is posted and showing him the front of his beat. A copy of the orders for each poet shall be hung up at the post.
• Sentries are to remain on the alert; they must not quit their arms, lounge, sit or lie down, take of any part of their uniform, or on any account converse with any one or quit their post. Sentries should ordinarily traverse the full extent of their beat at least once five minutes, unless local orders to the contrary are prescribed.
• A sentry moving about on his post shall always turn outwards when turning about.
• On the occasion of the relief of the sentries, one of the head constables of the guard shall invariably post them, except where there is only one head constable, and then the lance-naik or senior constable of the guard may be deputed to see to the relief of the sentries during the day, but never during the night. Sentries shall load and unload their muskets only under the order of the Guard Commander.
• When a sentry violates his orders and is put upon his trial, the head constable or any other officer who posted him shall be called to prove the orders of that particular post.

• Head constables or other officers relieving sentries, as well as the sentry, shall satisfy themselves on the occasion of each relief that all fastenings are secure. This should be particularly observed when relieving sentries at night.
• . Sentries will be relieved every two hours. Guards at headquarters will be relieved daily and at subdivisions at least every fortnight, provided that where the local conditions are exceptional and the difficulties of sending relief’s are great, the maximum period may be extended to a week in the former case and to one month in the latter with the special sanction of the inspector- General. [See also clause (d) and note (iv) of regulation 1222.1
• Treasury guards will invariably be relieved at the hour at which the treasury is opened. Whenever the office-in-charge of the guard or the guard itself is relieved, the treasurer or some responsible officer appointed by him must go round with both the relieved and the relieving officers. They should examine all the doors and windows with their fastening as well as the treasure chest and receptacles, and each should satisfy himself as to the sale condition of everything in the treasury strong-room building. A joint verbal report that the above rule has been complied with should be made to the Treasury Officer directly after such examination, and to the senior police officer~ present an arrival in office, if the latter is within reasonable distance of the guard. A note will also be entered in the roster book. [See clause 16.]

• The treasury strong-room or receptacles for treasure contained therein must on no account be opened or shut by a treasury officer except in the presence of the sentry and the officer on duty.
• As soon as the treasury is opened for the day, the doors and windows of the strong-room and their fastenings should be scrutinized, and- the s~a1s, locks, hinges, bolts staples and chains of all receptacles of treasure in charge of the guard should be carefully examined. ‘When the treasury is closed the Treasury officer should summon the officer in-charge of the guard and the sentry on duty and direct them to satisfy themselves that everything is securely fastened, more particularly the treasury doors and windows. Entries to the above effect will 4)e made on each occasion in the roster book.
• Special and immediate report must be sent to the Treasury officer and to the senior police officer present in the station should any thing be found wrong or should any lock, bolt or other fastenings be found out of order or bear sings of having been tampered with.
• On such occasions or when any other defect or loss is noticed, no member of the guard shall leave the premises, until permitted to do so by the investigating officer.
• No box or other receptacle containing treasure shall be left outside ‘the treasury rooms. If on any special occasion, this is found to be unavoidable, the Treasury officer shall at once report the matter to the senior police officer present at the headquarters or subdivisionaj station, who shall make special arrangements for the safe custody of the treasure, and report the necessity for such special arrangements to the Deputy Inspector General of the Range. Should any of the officials of the Collect orate keep money or valuables in any place other than the treasury-room the box containing such shall be properly secured and placed outside under the direct charge of the sentry, in the presence of the officer of the guard. The guard will only be responsible for such chests or safes as are kept outside the strong-room which are secured embedded in the wall or flush with the ground. In no case will the guard be responsible for the contents. When such chests are opened, the officer-in-charge of the guard must be present, and he must test the lock~or padlock as soon as it is again closed.
• No safe, chest, or any receptacle containing cash belonging to any department other than the treasury shall be placed under watch of the treasury guard sentry without the written permission of the Superintendent or in his absence, the officer in charge of his duties. (The police cash chest forms an exception.)
• A roster of duty in 13. P. Form No. 141 shall be kept by every officer-in-charge of a guard. The left-hand page should be written up every morning showing the names of sentries and hours of relief. On the right-hand page should be noted all relief’s, entries regarding which shall be signed both by relieving and relieved officers, all inspections of guards, doors, windows, padlocks, etc., the rounds of Treasury officer on opening or closing of treasuries, the visits of round officers any temporary change or illness of sentries or of any member of the guard, any permission granted to any ‘member of the guard to leave the permits, as well as any other item of important which may -come to the notice of the officer-in charge. It will be signed by all round and inspecting officers, including gazetted officers, who shall make any remarks that may be necessary about the condition of the guard.
• All head constables on guard duty shall be armed with muskets
• (i) All sentries guarding buildings which contain treasure, or arms shall be armed with rifles and shall wear on pouch of 20 rounds only, which will contain 15 rounds of 303 ball ammunition in chargers. All members of the guard including sentries will have magazines charged both by day and night but no round should be in the breach. Only when caution is called for by circumstances or previous information sentries on duty will have one round in the breach with remaining 4 rounds in the magazines but safety catches will be kept in the rear.

To avoid accidental firing the sentries should unloaded the chamber as soon as there be no cause for caution. On no account will safety catches be pushed forward when sentries challenge.

• Treasury guards or other relief’s shall carry twenty rounds of ball ammunition whenever they move.
• One sealed box (as received from the arsenal) containing ball ammunition (which will be changed once a year) shall be kept at each Treasury and Sub-treasury guard room for emergency. The sealed box will be kept in a strong wooden box which will be attached by a chain to the arms rack and well raised off the ground. One key shall be kept by the Guard Commander and a duplicate by the Court officer.
• During the day half the guard shall always remain at the treasury dressed and accoutred but from half an hour after sunset to sunrise the whole guard shall be present. Members of the guard shall not be allowed to go to the bazar for their meals.
• No fire shall on any account be allowed in treasury buildings. For lighting the zone of fire there should be powerful oil lamps with concave reflecting mirrors placed on posts, if necessary, in such a position as to throw a broad beam of light illuminating as large a field as possible, and at the same time Leave the sentry in shadow. Each sentry should also be provided with a bull’s- eye lantern to enable to look when necessary, into the strong-room, which will be left in darkness. The number of lamps required must vary according to the conditions of the treasury building but the Superintendent, who is responsible for the safety of the building, must be the final judge of the number required subject to the control of the Range Deputy Inspector-General. The lamps lanterns and sufficient oil of 150 flash point shall be provided by the Collector or other officer in charge of the treasury, who shall also arrange for the daily cleaning and maintenance of the lamp and lanterns, which shall be renewed from time to time on the reasonable demand of the Superintendent.
• At headquarters, the Superintendent shall either himself inspect the guard or cause it to be inspected by his Assistant or other officers at short intervals. The Armed Inspector shall visit the Sadar treasury guard at least once in every 24 hours, and he shall visit it between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m. once a week. His visits must be at uncertain hours and shall occasionally be so timed that he will be present at the time of the relief of sentries. Where there is a Sergeant or a Sub Inspector in the Special Armed Force, this officer may be occasionally, deputed instead of the Inspector, but in no case shall the Inspectors visits be less than three by day and one by night in the week. In addition an officer shall be told off daily to visit all guards (see regulation 696), similarly, at subdivisional headquarters, the Circle Inspector and in this absence, the Court officer, shall depute an officer once by day and once by night to visit the treasury guard. He shall also himself visit the guard at least twice by day and once by night each week when at headquarters. In subdivisions where a Subdivisional Police Officer is posted, that officer shall visit the sub-treasury guard at least twice a week at night. it is the duty of superior officers to see that all officers visiting rounds are thoroughly acquainted with their duties and the points to which they should attend. Round officers shall invariably turn out the guard and not merely content themselves with visiting the sentries at night. They shall test the ability of the sentry to call out the guard from his post.
• Alarm parades.—q) For emergency force.—During the inspection of the guard the Superintendent shall occasionally test the mobility of his emergency force by holding an alarm parade at the treasury. In carrying this out the following points should be observed. The emergency force shall carry out all movements at the double. They shall take every advantage of cover and avoid getting bunched up. Their primary objects is to take possession of and hold the treasury. An alarm parade register in B. P. Form No. 142 shall be kept in the treasury guard room and shall be written up by the senior officer attending the parade.
• For Guard The men of die guard on hearing the alarm shall proceed direct to their posts remaining there in defence of the treasury till the arriva~1 of the emergency force or until further orders.
• For unarmed police Officer of this branch at district and subdivisional headquarters shall also attend alarm parade.
• Between sunset and sunrise sentries on treasuries shall call out the number of their post and “All is well” every half hour. H any sentry fails to do so, the fact shall beat once reported by any other sentry to the officer-in charge of the guard.
• Where there are telephones connecting treasury guards and headquarters force, the relieving sentries at each end shall always, between sunset and sunrise, ring up to find out whether the telephone is in working order. If they fail to get a rep1y, a constable shall be sent from the headquarters force to see whether the wires have been tampered with. An extra constable shall be kept for this purpose alone in the guard-room of the headquarters force. The head constab7e, when visiting his sentries, shall also ring up occasionally A register shall be maintained in which the name of each sentry on the treasury guard shall be noted as soon as he rings up headquarters
• The bulk of cash at subdivisionai treasuries shall be kept under double locks, the key & the one remaining with Subdivisional Magistrate and of the other with the treasurer.
• The duplicate keys of the Chubb’s locks which are in use for the record -room doors of the offices of Collectors are to be placed in a sealed packet and handed over to the office-in charge of the treasury guard. The sealed packet will be examined once a week by the record- room Deputy Collector. The Registration record-room keys may be similarly made over to the police guard, in which case, the sealed packet will be examined once a week by the District Sub Registrar. But except as provided for below on officer-in-charge or constable of any guard shall take charge of the key of any strong-room, safe or receptacle in which treasure is kept.
• When the nazir or any responsible member of the office establishment of the civil court does not reside in the close vicinity of the court house, the duplicate keys of the office shall be handed over to the officer-in-charge of the treasury guard, in a cover secured with the seal of the court, The officer-in-charge shall only deliver up the keys in the event of an alarm of fire between sunset and sunrise, or upon presentation of written order from one of the presiding officers of the courts concerned.
• Should any one approach the post or building between the hour of sunset and sunrise the sentry must challenge such person and order him to halt. Should he fail to get a satisfactory reply he will bring his rifle to the ‘ready’ and take off the safety catch, at the same time ca1l~ing out loudly for the guard to stand to’. Should the intruder still fail to obey the order to halt and persist in approaching the sentry’s post, the sentry should again order him to halt and, at the same time, threaten- to fire; Should the intruder still refuse to halt, the sentry may, at his discretion, use his bayonet or fire. Should there be more than one intruder and should they disobey the orders of the sentry and attempt to rush the building, he should not hesitate to open fire at once.
• Arms belonging to members of the guard who are not on duty should be kept in strong wooden racks, the muzzles of the rifles being passed through holes bored in the head rail of the rack, the heel-plates embedded in deep sockets in the lower rail, and an iron road with a round knob at one end and a ring at the other passed through the upright of the rack and the trigger guards of the rifles and secured by a padlock, the key of which will be in possession of the head constable. A box with a padlock should also be provided in which to keep the packets and loose rounds of members of the guard who are not on duty, the head constable being responsible for their distribution and collection respectively, when the guard falls in at sunset and sunrise for inspection. The head constable and all the guard shall be accommodated in one room, if possible, the arms being kept in the same room at a distance from windows and doors. The Superintendent should sec that no one can enter the guardroom, except by a door in full view of the sentry.

NOTE.—The arms and ammunition of officers on duty shall remain with them.

• The entire guard shall be paraded in uniform under arms at sunrise and sunset and shall be carefully inspected by the officer in command. He shall then read out the orders in force relating to the guard, the roster of duty for the day, and shall collect or distribute 4ie ammunition as detailed above before discharging the guard.
• The following are the duties of head constables in charge of guards and sentries. Superintendents and other inspecting officers shall see that these orders are strictly followed:—
• Each guard shall ordinarily be in the charge of not less than two head constables. The senior head constable shall be solely responsible for the guard unless he is too ill to carry out his duties when he shall hand over the command to the other head constable and at once inform his superior officer and get relieved.
• Both head constables shall not be absent from the guard at one and the same time.
• If the senior head constable leaves the guard for any reason he shall inform the junior head constable, stating where he is going and the length of time he is likely to be absent, so that he can easily be called, if required. The fact must also be entered in the roster book.
• The junior head constable shall only leave the guard with the sanction of the senior head constable. This must also be recorded in the roster book.
• The duties should be divided between the head constables according to mutual arrangement. Two hours on and two hours off or four hours on and four hours off are suitable periods. The term agreed upon is to be shown in the roster book.
• The head constable on duty shall not sleep during his turn of duty and he shall be responsible for the proper supervision of the guard during his turn of duty.
• The head constable while on duty shall—
• visit the sentries every hour;
• see that the sentries are properly and punctually posted and relieved and know their orders, and actually be present at each posting and relief;
• see that the sentries perform their duties properly;
• see that the guard is ready to turn out at a moment’s notice and that it does so-smartly;
• see that the men are properly dressed and accoutred;
• see that the arms and ammunition in his charge are kept in their right places; and
• see that all other property or persons under his charge are being properly looked after.

(viii) The senior head constable shall be responsible for the conduct of his men and the cleanliness of the arms of the guard.

NOTE. —The rules regarding strong-rooms and the methods for the storage of coins in Government treasuries are laid down in the Provincial Treasury Rule and the Subsidiary Rules made hereunder.

696. An officer shall be told off daily to visit all guards once a night, at uncertain hours. The name of this officer, with other particulars shall be entered in a register in B. P. Form No. 143. No entry in the district order book is needed. The Superintendent shall see that the hour of visiting the guards is varied, and that the services of the officer detailed are also utilized for seeing that the Town Police are on the alert. On the following morning the officer who visited the guards shall submit report in B.P. Form No. 144. In subdivisions this register shall be kept by Circle Inspectors.
697. (a) No guard shall be supplied except upon real emergency to any jail without the knowledge of the Inspector-General of Prisons and the approval of the Range Deputy Inspector- General.

• If in any emergency a Superintendent may think it his duty to supply a guard, the fact shall be reported at once to the Deputy Inspector-General.
• The occasions on which the Jail Superintendent may apply for police guard and the rules pertaining to them are in Appendix XXXVIII.

698. Rule 474 of the Bengal Jail Code is reproduced for the information and guidance of police officers—

“Where the police lines are sufficiently near a jail for the alarm signal to be heard there the constables stationed at the police lines shall take part in alarm parades, and if there is an outbreak they shall march to the jail to assist to quell it. The Superintendent shall make with the Superintendent of Police such arrangements as seem advisable for a concerted plan of action in ‘the case of an outbreak.”

NOTE.—In view of the fact that the Superintendent of Police is specially trained in the duties connected with the quelling of disturbances, this rule should be interpreted to mean that in the event of an outbreak in a jail the Superintend of the Jail should ordinarily ask the Superintendent of Police to take charge of the operations. The Superintendent of the Jail will continued to remain in charge of the jail, (Government of Bengal Revenue Department, Order No. 2385 R. J., 6ated the 7th March 1923.)

699. (a) When a police guard is supplied, the senior police officer present shall take command present shall take command of all those who form the guard, whether of guard, police, warders, chaukidars or the like.

• The officer-in-command is responsible for the conduct of the guard. The Superintendent shall either himself inspect the guard or cause it to be inspected at short intervals.
• Accommodation shall be provided and arrangements for water supply shall be made by the department to which, or person to whom, the guard is furnished; but when guards are supplied for jail health camps, if the Superintendent can supply tents, they shall use them instead.

700. (a) The Armed Inspector is responsible for telling off head constables, naiks and constables for guard and escort duties. Before the force leaves the police lines the Armed Inceptor or in absence, the Sergeant or the Sub-Inspector instructor shall satisfy himself that it is properly equipped and shall make a note of such inspection in the roster of duty.

(b) Guards and escorts shall not take with them any articles that are not part of their uniform except bedding and that only if long distances have to be travelled.

701. (a) Escorts shall be furnished only on written indents from competent authority. A separate requisition shall be made for each escort required in B.P. Form No. 145 and escort shall be distinguished from each other by the number of the requisition. Persons authorised to indent for escort parties shall be supplied with books of requisition forms by the Superintendent.

• The Superintendent shall determine the strength of the escort to be supplied when it is not laid down by rule. (See regulations 704- 707.)
• Forty-eight hours’ notice in ordinary cases and 72 hours’ notice in the case of escorts proceeding beyond the limits of the province (exclusive of Sundays and holidays) shall be given to the Superintendent to enable him to furnish an escort of the proper strength. But in urgent cases, on requisition from competent authority, Superintendents shall do their best to supply or relieve escort at short notice.
• Superintendents shall report promptly to the Deputy Inspector-General of the Range, by telegram when necessary, when they anticipate difficulty in providing escort within the time fixed by district officers. In such cases special arrangements shall be made by the Deputy Inspector-General for the supply of the force.
• As a rule railway and inland steam navigation lines shall be utilized as much as possible, and the shortest road from one place to another shall be taken.

• When large escorts are sent sufficient accommodation in the train or steamer or bus shall be reserved in good time and each Assistant Sub-Inspector or head constable shall be definitely in charge of a specified number of men of whom he shall have a list.
• All arrangements as regards carriage shall devolve upon the officer to whom the escort is supplied, and shall not in any way form part of the duty of the police. [see regulation 703(b).]
• Prisoners and treasure shall not, except under special circumstances, be sent together.
• Superintendents shall not despatch treasure or receive charge of it for despatch by railway until assured that arrangements have been made for receiving it at the station of arrival.
• Escorts shall never travel by night, except when proceedings by railway, steamer or boat, or under special instructions; and the marches shall be regulated so as to take advantage of po1ice-stations or other places of security in which to lodge prisoners and treasure when halting for the night.
• With a view to utilize as much as possible escorts returning to their districts, indenting officers having prisoners or treasure to be escorted to any place on the line of march shall apply to the senior local police officer present to dcpute a return ercort or any portion of it for this purpose, and such police officer shall, unless there be good grounds for refusal, comply with the requisition and make all necessary arrangements in accordance with rule, sending by the next post, to the Superintendent of the district to which the escort belongs, a copy of the orders he has given to the officer-in-charge of he party.
• Advantage shall be taken of returning escorts whenever possible for the despatch of treasure or prisoners to the district to which they belong or any district on their line of route. Officers-in-charge of escorts of any kind shall, on arrival at their destination, enquire from the authorities of the district whether any prisoners or treasure are awaiting transfer to their own district or to any district en route, an4 shall take charge of any that may be made over to them for escort. The escort commander shall report himself to the local Superintendent who shall make any arrangement that may be necessary for strengthening- the return escort. Escorts arriving at Calcutta shall enquire at both the Alipore and the Presidency Jails.
• Escorts, when halting at headquarters or subdivisions, prior to escorting prisoners or treasure back to their own districts, shall remain together in the police lines or the police-station compound.
• When any treasury official is sent in charge of a remittance he shall terrain present whilst the treasure is being examined and shall take back all bags and padlocks. If the escort is returning to the station of original despatch, the chests, etc., should be sent back under its charge, coolies, cart-hire and’ freight being paid by the treasury.
• Male prisoners when heavily fettered, shall, invariably be conveyed to and from railway and steamer stations in carts, or carriages.
• Female and juvenile prisoners shall be separated as far as possible from adult male prisoners. Female prisoners whether convicted or under-trail while on transit shall invariably be accompanied by a female warder to be furnished by the Jail Department.
• When an escort proceeds by boat or road, and one or more nights may be expected to intervene before it arrives at its destination, one hurricane lantern for every 10 men, with a sufficiency of oil or funds to procure it, shall be made over to the senior officer of the escort by the Reserve office for use during the journey. In every place, hut or tent, where prisoners are confined or treasure guarded during halts, and at every place of detention on railways owing to change of trains or steamers, etc., at night, a hurricane lantern shall be suspended, so that the treasure or prisoners may be in the full light.

(r)   The segregation of prisoners, etc., travelling by railway is obligatory whenever—

• military prisoners are sent;
• the aggregate number of prisoners and guards sent exceeds eight in number,
• even one prisoners is sent, if violent or dangerous; and
• insanes, civil or military, are sent.

(s)        Whenever compartments are reserved for the transport of prisoners or lunatics or iron frames attached in order to segregate prisoners or lunatics, payment shall be made at the rates charged by the different railways to the general public for reserved accommodation. In other cases prisoners may be carried by ordinary trains at ordinary rates.

(r) When convicts proceed the whole or pert of their journey by road, they shall not be marched more than 20 miles in one day. [Sect clause (i).]

(u)        U) When at any time it becomes necessary to allow convicts to stop for necessary purposes, the whole party shall be halted, and not more than two convicts at a time detached for such purpose. These convicts shall have shackles put on their legs singly and The handcuffs being then removed, they shall be allowed to proceed to a distance of not more than 12 paces from the escort. The halting place shall be carefully selected in a clear and open piece of: ground. The handcuffs shall not be removed until the leg-shackles are securely adjusted and vice-versa.

• Ordinarily two~ halts shall be permitted in one day to attend to necessary purposes, in addition to the authorized halt, to allow the convicts to cook and eat their food.
• When a police-station lying en route is used as a halting place the officer-in-charge of such police-station shall give all reasonable aid to the escort commander but all arrangements for feeding and guarding the convicts devolve during the halt on the police escort and not on the local police.
• To prevent dangerous overcrowding, each lock-up in which prisoners are accommodated for the night, shall be measured and the number the room is capable of holding shall be printed on the door. Each prisoner shall have not less than 9 square feet of sleeping space and at least 10 square inches of ventilating openings.. In very hot weather vernadabs shall, if possible, be occupied instead of closed rooms,
• At stations where there is a railway police lock-up, all prisoners escorted by the District Police may, if a bait is necessary, be placed in the lock-up, the escort providing the sentry.

(w)       (i) The regulations regarding escort of prisoners by railway shall, as far as possible, be applicable in case of escort of prisoners by steamer. Prisoners sentenced to more than 6 months rigorous imprisonment, prisoners awaiting trial for serious offences who have previous convictions, or who are reported to be dangerous, should be put in leg-shackles as well .as handcuffs. At night a light chain should be passed through the fetters of each prisoner and the end tied to the sentry, or die ends padlocked to stanchions.

• A chain should also be used whenever a prisoner goes to the closet, the end of the chain being passed under the door.
• On river steamers the escort commander shall report all circumstances connected with the convicts in his custody to the Commander or Serang of the steamer or flat, to whom he shall apply in all difficulties for advice and assistance and from whom he will receive all orders, necessary for the safe custody and well-being of the convicts.
• Men supplied from police-stations to strengthen escort shall be relieved at the next police-station in the line of route.

702. (a) On receipt of an escort requisition, the head clerk shall fill up the printed order on the

reverse of it, showing the strength of the escort and the amount of daily allowance or mileage, if any, considered necessary to be advanced to the escort, and shall lay the requisition and the necessary pay cheque, if any, before the Superintendent for approval and signature, after which he shall send them to the Armed Inspector.

• The Reserve officer shall then prepare a command certificate in B. P. Form No. 10 after entering on it the annual serial number of the escort, the names of all the men composing the escort, the name of the relieving station, if any, the number of railway warrant, if any, or the amount, if any, advanced for travelling expenses; and any particulars furnished by the jail or asylum authorities as to the dangerous character, etc., of prisoners or lunatics. The Reserve officer shall be responsible for- explaining all details entered in the command certificate to the escort commander and shall direct him to report himself with his party to the indenting officer half an hour before the time fixed. and also to the chief police officer of the place of destination after making over charge of the prisoners or treasure.
• The Armed Inspector shall make over the money advanced to the escort commander, take his receipt on the pay cheque, and give him the command certificate and such further instructions as are necessary.
• When the same boat or conveyance is used by both prisoners or treasure, etc., and by the escort, a fair proportion of the hire should be defrayed by the Police Department. [Note (K), Appendix B, Bengal Government Circular No. 1F., dated the 21st March 1907]
• Advances under article 159, Civil Account Code, limited to actual expenses may be made to Inspectors and all non-gazetted police officers employed on escort duty or camp guard if required to perform journeys by road, steamer or railway for which traveling allowance is admissible under the Fundamental and Subsidiary Rules.
• For the payment of expenses incurred in bringing under-trial prisoners to the Magistrates’ Court. (See regulation 333.)
• On return of the escort, the Armed Inspector or the Reserve officer, as the case may be, shall fill up the memorandum at the foot of the escort requisition and return it with the balance, if any, due to the Provincial Government to the head clerk, who shall adjust the account, either receiving the unexpended balance or paying the balance due to the escort. From the escort requisition and command certificate the accountant shall prepare the travelling allowance bill for the escort and shall return the requisition and the command certificate duly defaced to be filed with the counterfoil of the latter.