‘Police’ the only caste he knew

Ranbir Chauhdary

RAO Bahadur Ch Ram Singh was a distinguished police officer of the colonial and post-colonial Punjab. Son of a Rao Sahib, he was recruited as DSP from the quota reserved for Hindu agriculturist castes. As DSP Headquarters, Lahore, this handsome Jat from Tanda Heri village of old Rohtak district endeared himself to the then Deputy Commissioner, Dharam Vira, an ICS Officer — in 1938 — by dispersing a crowd of women protesters who had blocked the entry to the office of the then Premier of the province, Sir Sikander Hyat Khan, by letting loose snakes with the help of a snake charmer. In 1944, he displayed valour as SP, Anti-Robbery Staff, Ludhiana, by getting a large number of criminals arrested or killed in encounters. In 1946, as SP, Sargodha, he disturbed a public meeting of the Muslim League by letting loose at the venue two ‘rival’ buffaloes! He had also prevented the visit of MA Jinnah to that place by sending a telegram to his daughter that her father’s life was in danger. Ram Singh was awarded King George Police Medal. 

His reputation as a police officer reached new heights on his appointment as SP, Amritsar, after the Partition. He arrested Jogender Singh, SI, Beas police station, for possessing vast amounts of goods looted from Muslims migrating to Pakistan. Goods worth Rs 2 lakh, in those days, were recovered by him within the first few days of the ‘recovery of looted goods drive’ launched by him. A large number of policemen in Amritsar voluntarily surrendered stolen goods. His services were recognised by political leaders of the district. While participating in a debate in the East Punjab Legislative Assembly, Sardar Sajjan Singh remarked: “There was hardly a policeman in entire Amritsar district, except one head constable who had not been a party to loot. It was only after the present SP Ch Ram Singh (came) that things had changed”. 

The Rao Bahadur also got recognition as Commandant of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) at Jalandhar Cantt from 1952 to 1955. Under his dynamic leadership, the force played an important role in protecting the border with Pakistan, checking smuggling and protecting the Bhakra Nangal Project (under construction then) and other strategic points such as bridges and rail tracks. Consequently, he received the President’s Police Medal.  

As DIG Ambala Range, he played an important role in controlling the ‘Save Hindi Agitation’ (Hindi satyagraha) launched by the Arya Samaj against the compulsory teaching of Punjabi in the Punjabi and Hindi regions of Punjab. He did not hesitate to take stern action against these Jats of Bahu Akbarpur village, Rohtak district, for attacking police personnel. He did not care about his expulsion from the Jat community by a khap panchayat for this action because he considered the police as his caste.