Sikkim Police

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. Sikkim had become a protectorate of British India in 1861 and this had triggered off a spate of activity in the State.

The first political officer of Sikkim, Claude White thought that with the increase in population, crime would be more prevalent and felt 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.