The police have taken swift action against constable Vikas Kaushik, dismissing him from service barely two weeks after his suspension. Kaushik was accused of conspiring with criminals to carry out robberies and extortion. The police report said that the constable's involvement in a "shameful" criminal activity that eroded the faith of common people and his continuance in the force could cause further irreparable loss to the functioning and credibility of the Goa Police. It also held that his nexus with the criminals has led to an increase in thefts in North Goa.
Interestingly, action against Kaushik came after a 24-year-old accused thief provided details of how the constable gave information on specific targets. The police disclosed that Kaushik used stolen cell phones and social media to communicate with criminals and to keep his identity undercover.
Police conniving with criminals and being partners in crime is a common phenomenon in Goa, and senior police officers have often been under the radar for their connections with the underworld and drug lords. However, investigations have hit dead ends or probes against high-ranking officers have fallen out after some years. Ironically, in some cases, dismissals have been challenged, and the services of police officers have been restored.
The police hold the right to conduct an inquiry based on which it decides the suspension and dismissal. In this case, Kaushik was suspended on August 10 and dismissed on August 23. The suspicion is not over his termination but the extraordinary hurry shown. One wonders why there was no urgency to file an FIR. Also, the action comes when the police are yet to conclude the Bicholim case, where the thief has accused Kaushik.
Several cases have been reported in the past where police officers have compromised in their line of duty and extended tacit and even direct support to criminals and drug lords. There have been corruption cases on some; a case in point would be a current sub-inspector with two cases against him ” one where he faces corruption charges and another of a disproportionate assets case. There was a DySP and five constables that also faced a court trial. Another inquiry report has held a PSI attached to the Agasaim police station guilty of bigamy, fraud, cheating, disproportionate assets and violation of conduct rules. The inquiry report recommended disciplinary action, but no action materialised.
The question is whether the decision of the police bosses depends on the nature of the crime that embarrasses the force or whether it is the clout of the person in the ranks. Or whether it has more to do with covering up further damage. Police investigations and actions are sometimes intriguing and throw more questions than answers.
Law enforcers cannot be allowed to turn into lawbreakers at any cost, and there has to be consistency in action. Police may have deemed fit to dismiss Kaushik , and possibly he may have deserved that action, but why is such a yardstick not applied to those police officers who have more serious offences registered against them that are even more shameful? We agree that the principle of 'one size fits all' doesn't work while acting upon indiscipline, but picking up constables for bringing the force to shame and letting go of the big fish with more blood on their hands only exposes the dark shades of khaki.
