These formerly were the chief criminals, and the village watchman, in return for his pay, was expected to detect the crimes of his tribesmen and to make good any losses of property caused by them.

The sections of the tribes who held this office have developed into special castes, as the Khangars, Chadars and Chauhans of Chhattisgarh.

These last are probably of mixed descent from Rajputs and the higher castes of cultivators with the indigenous tribes.

The Dahaits were a caste of gatekeepers and orderlies of native rulers who have now become village watchmen.

The Pankas are a section of the impure Ganda caste who have embraced the doctrines of the Kabirpanthi sect and formed a separate caste.