79. Duties of mounted police.—

The following are the duties prescribed for the mounted police:

(1) Patrolling roads.

(2) Escorting prisoners and treasure.

(3) Conveying communications of special urgency.

(4) Following up criminals.

(5) Suppressing organized dacoity or other disturbances.

(6) Ceremonial escorts.

(7) Traffic control duty.

Two mounted orderlies are allowed to each of the members of the Board of Revenue while on tour in the plains, and to Commissioners while on tour in their divisions.

Mounted orderlies will be given at all times on the requisition of Commissioners and District Magistrates to carry communications of special urgency.

80. Formation of mounted police.—

Mounted police are formed into troops at certain headquarters. They are required to keep up a thorough knowledge of the duties enumerated in paragraphs 84 and 85 and to keep their horses in good condition and their uniforms, arms and accoutrements clean, smart and serviceable. A trumpeter shall be attached to each troop.

81. Duties of Sub-Inspectors and Head Constable's in mounted police.—

The duties of sub-inspectors and head constables of the mounted police are similar to those of Indian officers and non-commissioned officers in the Army, they must be competent cavalry drill instructors, and are responsible for the efficiency of the men and horses in their troops.

A mounted head constable must be told off daily at headquarters as day officer-in-charge of horses. Sub-Inspectors of the mounted police will take their turn with sub-inspectors of the armed police as day officers for the whole reserve. The mounted police will supply a quarter guard under a head constable over their lines.

82. Roaster of duty at troop headquarters.—

At troop headquarters the reserve inspector shall keep up a roster of duty (Form No. 95) for all men proceeding on outstation duty. All should be treated fairly in this respect. The troop-sub-inspector shall keep up a daily roster for all men told off for duty at headquarters.

83. Inspection before forces deputed to other districts.—

The Superintendent at troop headquarters will have all forces deputed to other districts carefully inspected before they leave. Superintendents and reserve inspectors of districts to which mounted police are deputed from the headquarters of troops are responsible that horses, accoutrements, horse- furniture and stable gear are kept in good condition. A parade should be held as soon as a force arrives, and deficiencies should be reported to the Superintendent of Police at troop headquarters. The Superintendent of Police at troop headquarters should hold a parade on the return of the force. A command certificate must be given to every force proceeding to or returning from an outstation.

Training of Mounted Police

84. Training of mounted police.—

All mounted police recruits, including men transferred from the foot police, will be trained in accordance with orders contained in paragraph (45) and will be on probation for two years. Constables transferred from the foot police to the mounted branch may count towards this probationary period any period of service they may have already had in the foot police up to a maximum of 16 months, but no constable transferred from the foot police to the mounted police will be on probation for less than 8 months in the mounted police, whatever his length of service. At the end of the probationary period, mounted constables will be confirmed if they have succeeded in qualifying at the recruits course of instruction and provided that their conduct has been good.

They must be so trained—

(1) that they can ride well and handle a horse in a troop on parade efficiently;

(2) that they can saddle and unsaddle horse properly, that they can take the whole of their horse's equipment to pieces and put it together again, and that they can groom their mounts;

(3) that they are proficient both mounted and on foot, in the sword and lance exercise and in troop drill.

85. Other trainings of members of mounted police.—

Members of the mounted police must also be trained in scouting and must be taught to carry out their duties singly and in sections. Horse must be taught to stand fire.

86. Three months' advance course of selected constables.—

Under the orders of Range Deputy Inspector-General of Police, selected constables of the Mounted Police will be sent for a three month's advance course of training prescribed by the Inspector-General of Police in the subjects and duties of Mounted Police at the Police Training College, Moradabad. The Inspector General of Police will, from time to time, decide the number of constables to be sent for this training by each Troop Headquartes. Only those constables, who qualify at this Advance Course of Training will be eligible for promotion to the posts of head constable in the Mounted Police subject to the provisions of paragraph 45, Police Regulations.

Candidates for this Advance Course of Training will be selected by Range Deputy Inspector General of Police on the basis of Central test. Only those who have completed five year's service in the Mounted Police and have been nominated by the Superintendent of Police may compete at this test.

A constable of the mounted police who qualifies at a course of instruction in Remount Training but who has not already obtained his cavalry drill certificate, will be sent on the next course for which he can be made available, after he obtains his Remount Training Certificate.

87. Training of troop horses.—

Troop horses should be trained to enter truck and horse-boxes.

88. Training for treatment of horses.—

With the sanction of the Inspector- General previously obtained, members of the force may occasionally be sent to the Veterinary School at Lucknow for instructions in the treatment of horses.