Sikkim Police calls upon all Sikkimese to join the efforts to elevate the underlying theme of 'Protect & Serve' to acquire a new meaning and value in the context of a rapidly transforming Sikkimese society." Towards the last half of the nineteenth century, high up in the laps of the Himalayas, events were unfolding that would lead to the birth of a new organization. The first political officer of
Sikkim, Claude White thought that with the increase in population, crime would be more prevalent and felt it necessary to raise a police force.Sikkim was also having territorial disputes with Tibet. In 1886 some Tibetian Militia occupied Lingto below the Jelepla pass on the Eastern border of Sikkim. In 1988 the Tibetians attacked Gnathang below the Jelepla pass but were pushed back by the British troops.Disturbances of such kind were posing a serious threat to the security of the state and the British felt that a Police outpost must be established somewhere at a strategic point on the Kalimpong-Rhenock-Jelepla-Lhasa Trade route. It was on the 27th of Nov. 1897 that a force consisting of 1 Head Constable and 5 Constables was posted at Aritar near Rhenock on the authority of a resolution passed by the King of Sikkim in the council. Sikkim Police was thus born.Claude White, the first political officer of Sikkim gave account of the function of the police force as follows:
(I) Collection of land revenue and rent
(II) Treasure guard
(III) Arrest and conveyance of offenders
(IV) Carrying out orders of Durbar
Maintenance security of the border following the withdrawal of the British troops from Gnathang. In September 1899, two additional policemen were employed to guard the Bank opened by Messers. Jetmull & Bhojraj at Gangtok.Prior to that, the need to have a regular police force had not felt as the landlords who were locally known as the Thikadars and the Kazis themselves functioned as police officers. In case of petty crimes they used to pass judgment and levy fines. Corporal punishment like flogging was also resorted to sometimes on the subjects in their jurisdiction. Only heinous crimes involving murder was dealt by the Durbar. The task of the police was daunting –the state was covered with thick jungles. There were no roads and accessibility to habitations, which were sparsely populated but farflung, was difficult.
