Why did the tahsildar regard Sisten as a potential rebel?
The tahsildar regarded Sisten as a potential rebel because of his appearance and attire. Sisten was dressed in Indian clothes and was sitting cross-legged, which made him appear as someone who identified with Indian culture rather than British authority, despite being a police inspector.
Additionally, upon learning that Sisten was from Awadh, the tahsildar assumed he might be sympathetic to the rebellion. Awadh was a major centre of revolt against the British. The tahsildar, who was later identified as the principal rebel leader of Bijnor, was actively communicating plans of the rebellion and assumed Sisten was part of the movement, asking him about the progress of "the work" in Awadh.
Explanation
The context clearly describes the encounter between Sisten and the tahsildar. The tahsildar's assumption stemmed from two key observations: (1) Sisten's Indian attire and traditional posture (sitting cross-legged), which suggested cultural identification with Indians rather than the British despite his official position, and (2) Sisten's origin from Awadh, a region that was central to the rebellion. The tahsildar's subsequent conversation about the rebellion succeeding and being "in able hands" confirms he was seeking fellow rebels and assumed Sisten was one.