PANAJI
In less than a month following his arrest and subsequent suspension for conniving with criminals to carry out robberies and extortion, the Goa Police has taken swift action by terminating Constable Vikas Kaushik’s service. His dismissal is one of the rare instances where the department has acted promptly in making its decision.
Kaushik’s complicity came to light when a 24-year-old thief, Faizan Sayyad, admitted to a series of thefts and provided details to the police about Kaushik’s instructions for carrying out the crimes within specific jurisdictions, selecting targets, etc.
The case originates from Bicholim police station, involving the arrest of Sayyad on August 1 hours after he made a foiled attempt to snatch a chain from a victim in Navelim.
During an inquiry led by SP Headquarters Nelson Albuquerque, Sayyad confessed not only to his own criminal activities but also revealed how Kaushik maintained contact with him and his associates through social media calls, and using stolen phones. Interestingly, Kaushik “ who was also arrested in the Bicholim case “ instructed Sayyad to commit theft in the jurisdiction of North Goa only.
“During the custodial interrogation of Sayyad, it has come to light that one police constable Vikas Kaushik was in constant touch with him and his associates… Kaushik used to call him every now and then through a social media account which he had created on one of the stolen mobile phones with a stolen SIM card being used by him (Kaushik),” reads a comprehensive four-page inquiry report, which was shared with the media on Wednesday.
While Sayyad confirmed that Kaushik never used his personal or official phone to connect with him and other accomplices, the now-dismissed cop instructed him to delete all the chat and call history from his phone. Kaushik had also tutored Sayyad in such a way that if the latter was ever arrested, he would ‘take due care’ of his release formalities.
“The act committed by the constable is highly objectionable wherein he has been in the company of accused persons involved in a series of theft of gold and chain snatching cases, for his illegal gain. As such, the police constable has proved himself to be one of the members of the active gang involved in the said crimes and therefore he doesn’t deserve to be in the Goa Police Department,” the report said.
With Sayyad claiming to have strong backing from the accused constable, the department also questioned his authority for inquiring with SDPO Sagar Ekoskar regarding the manhandling of the police by Sayyad, a news report which appeared in The Goan on August 3.
“The news article appeared in daily English “The Goan” against the Bicholim police station highlighting the news that the accused in custody manhandled police and pointed gun towards them… It has tarnished the image of Goa Police and Bicholim PS…” it said.
