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belong to the Punjab Irregular Force, a Force in which I have always served and am now one of the oldest Officers in it. The Circumstances I would wish to bring to Your Lordship's notice are as follows.
The Punjab Irregular Force was raised in 1849, shortly after the Annexation of the Punjab for protection of our Northern Frontier, and its ranks have up to this time been filled chiefly by men of predatory habits, accustomed from their childhood to carry arms, and who amongst themselves are constantly engaged in petty hostilities - a large number of them are drawn from Territories beyond our Frontier. One of the prisoners is a subject of the Rajah of Cashmere. From the date of Enlistment, implicit obedience to the orders of their European Officers has been instilled and enforced. The Commandants of these Regiments are invested with Magisterial powers.
From the first organization of the Punjab Force, it has been engaged in Border warfare against Tribes on that Frontier who are constantly crossing the boundary for the purpose of plunder. They are bold and dexterous, and to check and intimidate them, we have had to resort to summary