The last few days we have many news reports involving police investigation or lack of it. Seemingly, driven by different yardsticks, giving the impression that training is lacking or being guided by unseen hands.
Fr Bismark’s case seems to be petering out but is a classic case where poor police work is evident. What was the investigation officer thinking when he arrived at the scene? “Ok they were drinking, I can see the bottles so it is a case of drowning” case closed. As a police officer he should have been suspicious and collected the evidence. It is possible the bottles could have been there from some other drinking party; maybe he would not have missed the vest. Most cases in court fail because evidence is not collected or recorded properly. Salman Khan was not driving the car based on shoddy evidence recording.
In the Mandrekar case, we have the investigating office still investigating. Surely, a different yardstick was used in the case of Mickey Pacheco when he was arrested almost immediately for abetment and subsequently freed. Do the police officers have a set routine or is it left to each officer to deal with it on a case to case basis?
It would appear I am jumping on the Remo bandwagon, there are two parts. In an accident case where an ex police officer lost his life the driver was arrested and released on bail immediately. In the Remo case, they continued on their journey after the ambulance took the victim away. Should not an alcohol test be done immediately to ensure later there is no ambiguity of the driver being under influence or not? One can argue it was not a fatal accident; however it does happen that the victim succumbs subsequently. Technically both should have gone to GMC as a routine procedure.
The other part of the case is even funnier. Remo was asked to appear before the cops because he is alleged to have abused the minor. Surely his explanation that he is out of town and that he would appear on arrival should have been sufficient. The cops have gone on to write to the Foreigner Registration office, the embassy etc. Even look out notices are issued. Apart from wasting precious time and resources of all concerned and the police, the only other advantage is the fact that when a really serious offence takes place in future the investigating office will be well versed in these procedures. Surely the police are used to waiting for people to appear before them in many other cases.
The height of unsporting behavior is the post ISL match incident at Fatorda. Let’s not discuss that here as that is not the subject. What is worse is the police work. Arresting an international player for “elbowing” and then trying to stop him from flying out without court orders. There are so many fisticuffs happening after any tense football match or dhirio all over Goa. How many people have the police arrested immediately? Was the complainant sent for a medical examination as is the procedure? Why in this case did the police not spend some time to investigate before deciding to arrest? Was the CM’s reported statement that he saw the elbowing of his host and hence the police acted without thinking?
The one that takes the cake really is the arrest of one ex CM while still struggling to arrest another ex CM in the Luis Berger bribery case. The raids on the relative of one accused while no raids on the arrested person who was questioned or his relatives? Strange.
The last example is more of an administration issue but related to a police case. The head of the ACB is transferred at the drop of a hat, the official reason is routine. Why a routine transfer would be affected when the department is handling many sensitive cases. The most important case because of the relationship the CM shares with the accused, is that of the GIDC official caught red handed accepting a bribe. The CM officially promised that despite the relationship the law would take its own course. Perhaps he meant meandering course like some great river.
It is easy to see that whims and fancies are operational in every case and there are no set standards. The above points to two things. One, the police department personnel need some serious training in good police work and for every case a set procedure should be established. There should be standard operating procedures drawn up. This would also help the public know where, when and what to expect.
The other is delinking of the police machinery from the political establishment and making them independent. The transfers must be governed by people other than politicians. A police commission, possibly manned by former IPS officers. It is embarrassing for police officers to interrogate people and two days later have to salute them and take orders as they have become their political masters. This change is crucial if the policing standards are to be raised and respect of the force is to be maintained. If freed of interference the police will do a great job.
Blaise Costabir is an alumnus of the Asian Institute of Management and a first generation entrepreneur
