Goa policemen 'punished' for stopping IAS officer's car: SP makes them do sit-ups

Panaji (The Uttam Hindu): In Goa, stopping an IAS officer's car for checking proved so costly for the policemen that they had to face the wrath of a senior officer of their own department. A bizarre case of VIP culture and police harassment has come to light in North Goa, where after the policemen on duty stopped the car of an IAS officer, SP (North) Harishchandra Madkaikar called them to his office and punished them by making them do sit-ups. This incident has created a stir in the police department and the matter has reached the Director General of Police (DGP), who has termed this action of the SP as against the rules.

According to the incident, Old Goa police and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) personnel were conducting a blockade in the Santa Cruz area. Meanwhile, the personnel stopped a car with a 'BR' (Bihar) registration number heading towards Panaji for checking. When asked for a license plate, the driver showed his ID and drove off, claiming to be an IAS officer with the central government. But the matter didn't end there. According to reports, the IAS officer returned angrily some time later, opened the trunk of his car, and threw all his belongings onto the road. He challenged the policemen, asking them to check his belongings, then put them back and left. The officer then reported the incident to senior police officers over the phone.

The complaint resulted in the investigation being handed over to Superintendent of Police (SP) Harishchandra Madkaikar. It is alleged that the SP summoned the policemen from the Old Goa police station to his office in Porvorim and made them do sit-ups as punishment. Upon learning of this incident, Goa DGP Alok Kumar took a tough stand. According to a Times of India report, the DGP termed the SP's actions as "inappropriate." He clarified that corporal punishment of policemen is not part of police regulations. The DGP has instructed the SP to work according to the rulebook and not to disrespect the officers. He has also advised the staff deployed at checkpoints to maintain decorum during vehicle checking.

This entire incident has had a profound impact on the morale of lower-level Goa Police personnel. The action is being criticized tacitly within the department. A senior officer says that if police officers are humiliated in this manner for following the rules, they will hesitate to perform their duties and stop suspicious vehicles in the future. Police headquarters is currently monitoring the situation and trying to ensure that officers are treated with respect, regardless of the VIPs present.