The King’s Police Medal was introduced by Royal Warrant in 1909 to recognize police gallantry or devotion to duty. The following three Indian policemen were recommended for the King’s Police Medal in September 1918 and I have chosen their citations to show the diverse nature of policing in India:
- Constable Abdul Quadir Sahib, for staying with and protecting his sub-inspector during an attack by a mob.
- Head Constable Musleh-ud Din, for single handily attacking an armed and dangerous gang of bandits who were attempting to break into a house.
- Police Constable Muhammad Shafiq, for his bravery in killing a marauding camel and saving the life of his sub-inspector.
The photograph below shows Indian police and dates from the 1920s. The long bamboo pole they hold is called a lathi and is still used by police on the Indian sub-continent.
The King’s Police Medal
Citations for the Indian Police can be found in the Gazette of India, which is available at the British Library. However, a full citation was not always provided if it was believed an officer could be put at risk by doing so. For Abdul Quadir Sahib, it was recommended that his citation should appear as, ‘Bravery and devotion to superior officer in attack by mob’.
Abdul Quadir Sahib, Police Constable. Madras Police.
On 21 May 1917 the sub-inspector of police, Annur station, in the Coimbatore district, accompanied by this constable went to conduct searches in two villages inhabited by Valayars and Vellalas. The former are a criminal tribe and the latter act as their protectors and receivers of stolen property and are notorious for defying authority. They objected to the search being conducted and, and when the sub-conductor insisted, set upon him and his party and handled them very severely.
The police party had to retreat before superior numbers and being pursued scattered in different directions. Constable Abdul Quadir stayed by the sub-inspector against whom the attack was chiefly directed and did his best to defend him. On reaching a neighbouring village, the constable got the sub-inspector whose leg had been fractured into the shelter of a house.
Though deserted by the few friendly villagers who had been with them and advised by the sub-inspector to look after himself the constable remained and closed the house against the assailants. The mob however began to break open the door and threatened to set fire to the house; so he was forced to open it. The mob again attacked the sub-inspector but the constable defended him receiving severe injuries in doing so.
Musleh-ud Din- head constable of police. United Provinces Police.
On 21 December 1917, a very large and well-armed gang of dacoits [armed bandits] made an attack on a house in the town of Sirsanganj. The police station to which this head constable was attached is situated in this town. On receiving the alarm the head constable proceeded to the spot with a musket and in spite of being fired at, advanced to within about 15 yards and opened fire on the gang. He wounded one of the dacoits and, on attempting to secure this man was himself hit. The head constable succeeded in retiring with his musket for a short distance before falling unconscious. In his devotion to duty he exhibited courage of the highest order by attacking a gang so well armed and immeasurably superior in numbers.
Muhammad Shafiq, Police Constable. United Provinces Police.
On the 26th February 1918, a report was made at the Atraulia police station that a mad camel had severely injured two men, one of them mortally. Shortly afterwards the camel accompanied by another camel made its appearance close to the police station. Several people working in the field close by were chased but succeeded in escaping to their huts.
The sub-inspector with a posse of police and some unarmed villagers proceeded to the spot. When within a hundred yards of the animal the sub-inspector advanced to within forty yards. The mad camel on seeing the sub-inspector charged. The sub-inspector’s gun missed fire in both barrels with the result that he was caught by the camel and severely wounded and rendered unconscious.
Constable Muhammad Shafiq seeing the plight of the sub-inspector and taking the initiative, where other superior officers failed, seized an old single-barrelled gun from a head constable and, advancing to a close range fired at the hind quarters of the mad camel whereupon the animal made off.
The next day the mad camel again made an appearance and this constable was responsible for its death. He laid wait on a piece of rising ground and had the camel driven out to him by a crowd of villagers armed with lathis [long bamboo pole]. When within about 60 yards the constable who was using the sub-inspector’s gun that had failed the day before, fired and brought the camel down. The action of this constable throughout was exceedingly plucky.
On the first day he was using a very old gun and if it had failed him, he would probably have received the same treatment as he had seen meted out to the sub-inspector; moreover on the same day he took the initiative where his superior officers failed and thereby saved the life of the sub-inspector.