Trapping criminals and their "networks"

Chapters 5 and 6 of kaNTaka SOdhanam, cANakya focus on the aspects of catching criminals by trapping them in a pre-planned methods.

We have earlier seen appointing failed sanyasis in the service of King as one of the intelligence agency called tApasa vyanjanaH.

Now we see past criminals who have now been serving King (after necessary training & testing) along with the tApasa vyanjanas to trap the criminals along with their networks by making them steal the marked items and see how those items are moving. For example a gold item is stolen someone should buy such stolen goods. There will be a network associated with the criminals. criminals associate themselves. Generally the kingpin of the criminal network will not come into the direct operation. It is important to catch the complete network to establish righteousness.

So, the agents of king in the form of siddhas (people with magical powers) with the help of past criminals who are well versed with the mentality of criminals should attract the criminals to them and show them some magical powers and make a grand plan. Once the complete group is involved in the crime, then the should be caught red handed and punished suitably. If the situation warrants, the criminals should be killed in the encounter. 

If anyone handling the goods or animals that were stolen in the transactions of buying and selling, king should arrest them and prosecute them to find out how they acquired them.

If any insider is involved in the theft, (one of the family member helps the criminal in the crime), reasons for such involvement should be investigated, the insider could have some criminal tendencies as well.

As a whole, the pradEshTha, gOpa, shtAnika (magistrate / police officer, local revenue officer and intelligence head of locality) should work together to root out any criminal tendencies within their jurisdiction. 

This post brings us to the end of 6th chapter of 4th book of artha sAstra.