Mewar Bhil Corps

As of 1891, the Corps had five officers - Commandant, Assistant Commandant, Adjutant, Wing Officer, and Medical Officer (of which the 2nd in command was stationed in Kotra, the others in Kherwara).[2] The Commandant was also entrusted with political charge of the Bhomat region, also known as the Mewar Hilly Tracts.[5] This officer acted as First Assistant to the Mewar Political Agent.[5] The Assistant Commandant of the Mewar Bhil Corps was located in Kotra and acted as the Second Assistant to the Mewar Political Agent.[5]

Until the 1930s, regular military officers used to be appointed to the Corps; after that time, officers in the Indian Army Reserve were appointed because of the paucity of regular officers.[7]

The initial strength of the Corps was 4 companies, which was increased to 10 companies in 1844, of which 3 companies were stationed in the village of Kotra (in present-day Kotra tehsil).[6][2] In 1861, the Corps was reduced to 8 companies, 6 at Kherwara and 2 at Kotra.[2] As of 1891, a detachment of the Corps was stationed in Udaipur as an escort to the Resident of Mewar).[2] As of 1932, the strength of the Corps was 633 ranks.[7]^:250

It was raised at a cost of Rs. 120,000 of which the Mewar State paid Rs. 50,000 and the remainder by the British Indian Government.[8] In the early decades, the Mewar State contributed Rs. 50,000 annually for the upkeep of the Corps but, in 1883, it was arranged that instead of the payment, the British Government should take revenues from the villages in the Mewar portion of Mewara.[9][7] As of 1932, the annual expense of the Corps was Rs. 2.29 lakhs.[7]

The Mewar Bhil Corps' primary function was to maintain the internal security in Mewar State, such as providing guards for residences at Mount Abu and Udaipur,[10] and was never pressed into active service in a war.[2][7] The following were the Corps' better known engagements in matters of internal security.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Mewar Bhil Corps remained loyal to the British.[8] One wing of the 1st Bengal Cavalry was stationed at Kherwara cantonment, which was a cause of concern to the British as the other wing of the cavalry in Nimach had revolted.[11] Captains J.C. Brooke and R.M. Annesley who were the Commandant and second-in-command respectively, arranged for the Mewar Bhil Corps to shut the passes leading out of Kherwara and keep the Bengal Cavalry in check.[11]

In a dispute about succession to the rulership of Mewar, the jagirdar of Bagore, Sohan Singh, claimed the right of accession instead of Sajjan Singh and openly rebelled against the Maharana.[8] On 18 September 1875, 275 men of the Mewar Bhil Corps were dispatched along with the Maharana's troops to Bagore.[8] Sohan Singh surrendered without a shot being fired.[8]

In 1950, Mewar Bhil Corps was transferred to the Rajasthan Police.[1]