The harsh reality is that criminals do not any longer fear the police, and lawlessness has led to rise in crime. Government needs to root out corruption in the police force
The recent Mapusa dacoity has left Goans shocked and stunned. Such incidents are increasing in the state and many go unreported because people feel it is not worthwhile their time, energy and money chasing the police who perhaps will do nothing in the matter.
One recalls the daring armed robbery where the culprits tied up and looted an elderly couple at Nagalli Hills in Dona Paula some five months ago and the police are yet to make a breakthrough in arresting the criminals. In the year 2011, a 71-year-old woman Ivone Paes was brutally done to death, while her husband was critically injured during a robbery at their Alto Dabolim residence and this case also remains unsolved.
The question is: Why is the crime rate increasing in peaceful Goa? Is it because the police have become lethargic in discharge of their duties? Police are custodians of law, and citizens need to be law-abiding. However, the harsh reality is that criminals do not any longer fear the police or respect the law, and lawlessness has led to crime. It is a known fact that the large number of migrants working at construction sites and in other such jobs are the ones responsible for breaking into and robbing closed houses knowing very well that they can make good their escape due to poor policing.
The police are fully aware of what is happening but are not bothered to act. We elect our leaders to protect our safety, security and freedom, but what are our leaders doing? Why there is no sign of improvement in law and order situation? The first task before the government is to de-politicise and root out corruption in the police force that has many clean officers as there are utterly corrupt ones.
Currently it appears that those who are influential and corrupt occupy powerful postings, with some having to pay lakhs of rupees for such postings, while the clean and honest ones are posted in Police Training College, Reserve police, computer section, Traffic, GRP, etc. By simply exchanging the positions between the corrupt officers and clean officers, the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, can end corruption overnight.
Also, why are our police labelled as lazy? We are aware that many youth join police force only to have a secure job. Such policemen do not work hard and will not register cases, they work only if bribes are paid and such policemen deserve to be sacked or compulsorily retired.
There is a need for police intelligence and surveillance to be stepped up. The police should enforce pub/bar/tavern timings strictly. Better police penetration is necessary in coastal beach areas and villages where violence is increasingly erupting. Police chowkies/kiosks/outpost must be established for better police visibility. There should be an increase in foot, jeep and motorcycle patrolling, especially during night time. The concept of neighbourhood police should be encouraged and more public and police meetings must be held regularly.
Currently we have two posts of District Superintendent of Police namely SP North and SP South, but in view of the increasing population and crime rise, we need a minimum of four SPs for effective policing and supervision in the two districts of Goa. Accordingly, each district can be further bifurcated and government can create the posts of Additional SP North and Additional SP South with both reporting to the main District SP.
Seniority in the police department must be respected because seniority and years of experience equate with maturity. The government should seriously think of creating a post of Senior Police Inspector or Chief Inspector so that only such Senior Inspectors with adequate seniority and experience are made the in-charges of police stations.
Improving public and police interface is essential and every police station must maintain a complaint book that must be scrutinised everyday by the in-charge of the police station and countersigned by the Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent which will serve as an effective public redress monitoring system.
Lastly, the police force is headed by the new Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar, IPS, who is a brilliant officer of impeccable integrity totally devoid of any ego. The fact that he has been giving patient hearings and listening to the grievances of NGOs, citizen forums, activists and members of the public speaks volumes of his endurance, open-mindedness and the desire to offer a people-friendly police force. This is a sign of matured
leadership.
Goa cannot afford to become a weak state. New initiatives must be taken up by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant so that Goa police is looked upon as the finest and best police force in the whole country.
(Juino De Souza is former State Information Commissioner-Goa.)
