336. Persons to be placed under surveillance. [§12, Act V, 1861].
(a)It is impossible to define with absolute precision the class of persons to be placed under surveillance and much discretion must be left to Superintendents. They should remember that, although surveillance is to be exercised by the village authorities the efficiency of the surveillance will depend largely on the supervision maintained by the station staff, and the number of surveilles should be limited to what the staff is able to supervise effectively. The list of persons under surveillance should, therefore, be confined to the narrowest possible limits. It may, however, be laid down that all persons addicted to the following classes of crime should ordinarily be placed under surveillance :-(i)Persons who have at any time during the past five years been convicted of dacoity, burglary or theft, robbery, drugging, counterfeiting, murder for gain or bad livelihood.(ii)Suspects. - Persons who are known or suspected to have been concerned in any of the above offences during the same period, or who are or are believed to be professional, habitual or notorious cattle lifters or burglars, thieves, receivers of stolen property, harbourers or abettors of thieves or to belong to any criminal tribe or gang.(b)No person falling under clause (ii) shall be placed under surveillance unless a history sheet has been opened, and the orders of Superintendent obtained in the manner laid down in the following regulation. In the case of persons falling under clause (i) the station officer should, from time to time, as opportunity occurs, institute enquiries with a view to ascertaining whether the ex-convict is living an honest life, or has reverted to criminal habits.Note. - Persons who have been convicted or are reasonably suspected of opium or cocain smuggling, and in the districts of Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Bogra persons who have been convicted or are reasonably suspected of ganja smuggling, should be placed under surveillance. Chaukidars, in whose jurisdiction such parsons reside should be furnished with a list giving their names and warned to report their absence to station officers without delay. Station officers shall deal with those reports in the same manner as in the case of other bad characters or suspects.
