‘Lahore had only one police inspector in 1874’

It is difficult to believe that only one police inspector was posted in Lahore some 137 years ago for crime prevention and maintaining law and order in the city.
Tracing the history of Police, former Inspector General of Police Zia Ul Hassan quoted the historical reprints of “Lahore as it was” said on Sunday that in 1874, the police force was headed by the District Superintendent and had its headquarters near the Wazir Khan Mosque.
Lahore police, at that time, consisted of one Inspector, two Deputy Inspectors, 29 sergeants and 342 constables; all natives.
The budget of the force was Rs 34, 927 which was borne by the municipality.
He said one police station was situated in Anakali near the Agra Bank, one outside the Lahori Gate, one near the Bhatti Gate and one near the junction of four roads on the Mall, known as Chairing Cross.
Zia ul Hassan said the city comprised of 19, 830 houses in 1875 with a population of 92, 035, out of whom 40, 777 were females.
There were 6617 houses in the suburbs which housed around 36, 406 inhabitants.
The total number of English living in the city were 1723, Punjabis 109, 323, Hindustanis 11, 334, Bengalis 729, Afghans 474 and un-classified nationalities around 4,858.
Out of all these, 1, 979 were agriculturalists, 17, 852 were manufacturers and traders, 973 were described as professionals, 2343 clerks, 278 pensioners and 240 labourers.