The Indispensable Backbone of Crime Control: Khabaris in Mumbai Police

Strategic Insights -

In the realm of policing, one often-overlooked yet vital component is the khabari, or informer. These clandestine sources risk their lives to provide crucial information about criminal activities, gangs, and suspicious movements, insights that digital systems cannot fully capture. From street vendors to ex-cons, khabaris come from ordinary walks of life, sharing information about suspicious or criminal activity in their areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Khabaris play a critical role in providing human intelligence to the police, often leading to major breakthroughs in investigations, especially in complex or sensitive cases.
  • The Mumbai Police has a long history of relying on informers, dating back to the 1960s when smuggling was rampant.
  • Khabaris come from various backgrounds, including street vendors, rickshaw pullers, small businessmen, paan stall owners, former gang members, ex-convicts, and even active criminals who have turned informants.
  • Informers risk their lives to assist the police, and the identity of an informer is always kept confidential for their safety.
  • The police never reveal the names of informers, even in successful operations or encounter reports.
  • The secret fund used to pay informers is an officially sanctioned fund used specifically to compensate them for their services.
  • Payments to informers are kept confidential to protect their identities, and the amount depends on the value of the information they provide.
  • The khabari network works through a street/criminal circle, where informers provide information to police officers, leading to actions, raids, and arrests.
  • The use of human intelligence in combination with digital policing has led to stronger results in the 2020s.

Statistics:

  • The khabari system in the Mumbai Police dates back to the 1960s.
  • Informers have played a crucial role in atleast 2 major encounters during the gang wars of the 1980s and 1990s.
  • The secret fund used to pay informers is an officially sanctioned fund used specifically to compensate them for their services.
  • Payments to informers range from financial support for informers and their families to quiet support during imprisonment or injury.
  • The khabari network has been instrumental in tracking the drug trade and organised crime in Mumbai.

Sources:

  • Sudhakar Suradkar, a former IPS officer ("Technology or machines can never replace human intelligence.")
  • Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. ("Khabaris: The backbone of crime control", 2025)
  • Contify.com ("Mumbai Police Informers: The Human Intelligence Network", distributed by Contify.com)
  • "The Economic Times" (cited in the original text)