THE GOAN: Is there a reluctance to enforce the law against bars and restaurants that remain open beyond stipulated hours? The trend shows that late parties have often resulted in altercations and group clashes.
Jaspal Singh: Episodic and isolated incidents should not be construed as a rise in violent behaviour. There is no reluctance, the law is duly enforced. Excise Laws are primarily enforced by the excise department. Being an iconic tourist destination, the timings in Goa differ from other places. Incidents att
Jaspal Singh: Episodic and isolated incidents should not be construed as a rise in violent behaviour. There is no reluctance, the law is duly enforced. Excise Laws are primarily enforced by the excise department. Being an iconic tourist destination, the timings in Goa differ from other places. Incidents att
ributable to late parties are very insignificant.
TG: Are the procedural follow-ups and personal peace playing on the minds of policemen on duty, now that human rights and other NGOs are actively pursuing matters?
JS: Law is enforced not because NGOs and Human Rights groups are active, they have always been active in Goa. As a law enforcement agency, we enforce the law by the book not because of such entities. They have an important role to play as part of civil society and we respect that.
TG: What are the deterrents that are being set by police against brawls and street fights? Is the law not strong enough to restrict anti-social elements?
JS: Is there any society which does not have deviant behaviour? The mere existence of law enforcement implies the presence of violence in any society. Conflict in society has always been there and would continue to be there. Police are only a ratio to a population, every house and every nook and corner cannot be policed. Society is always evolving. No society is immune to crime. So long as criminogenic factors are there, crime would be there. The public has to inform the police
TG: Don’t you feel that a lack of police presence in the form of night patrolling is leaving the field open for troublemakers?
JS: No, I don't think so. Goa is perhaps one of the most peaceful states. Boys fight even in school. That cannot be policed.
TG: Are there any plans to heighten patrol, now that crimes are on the rise and the party season is peaking?
JS: We are always alert. And there is no significant rise in crime. Covid has left its mark on society. People have lost jobs. It would definitely lead to some tension in society. Crime data for 2022 is not comparable to 2020 and 2021. The year 2019 is the relevant year for comparison.
TG: When you say zero tolerance toward violence, what exactly do you mean?
JS: Zero tolerance does not imply zero violence in society. Violence may be attributed to marital discord, property disputes, poverty, unemployment, youthful exuberance, and general conflict in society. No society is immune to violence. I believe Goa in particular and India, in general, is a less violent society. We have no gun culture in our country. In other countries, there are frequent shootouts. Even schools are not spared. We are a far more pacifist society. Zero tolerance means that every act of violence would be lawfully prosecuted. And no one is above law. Being an iconic tourist destination, it has always been our endeavour to handle crime with firmness. Goa Police has one of the highest detection rates in the country, that is what zero tolerance means. That all kinds of errant behaviour be investigated and prosecuted.
TG: Are the procedural follow-ups and personal peace playing on the minds of policemen on duty, now that human rights and other NGOs are actively pursuing matters?
JS: Law is enforced not because NGOs and Human Rights groups are active, they have always been active in Goa. As a law enforcement agency, we enforce the law by the book not because of such entities. They have an important role to play as part of civil society and we respect that.
TG: What are the deterrents that are being set by police against brawls and street fights? Is the law not strong enough to restrict anti-social elements?
JS: Is there any society which does not have deviant behaviour? The mere existence of law enforcement implies the presence of violence in any society. Conflict in society has always been there and would continue to be there. Police are only a ratio to a population, every house and every nook and corner cannot be policed. Society is always evolving. No society is immune to crime. So long as criminogenic factors are there, crime would be there. The public has to inform the police
TG: Don’t you feel that a lack of police presence in the form of night patrolling is leaving the field open for troublemakers?
JS: No, I don't think so. Goa is perhaps one of the most peaceful states. Boys fight even in school. That cannot be policed.
TG: Are there any plans to heighten patrol, now that crimes are on the rise and the party season is peaking?
JS: We are always alert. And there is no significant rise in crime. Covid has left its mark on society. People have lost jobs. It would definitely lead to some tension in society. Crime data for 2022 is not comparable to 2020 and 2021. The year 2019 is the relevant year for comparison.
TG: When you say zero tolerance toward violence, what exactly do you mean?
JS: Zero tolerance does not imply zero violence in society. Violence may be attributed to marital discord, property disputes, poverty, unemployment, youthful exuberance, and general conflict in society. No society is immune to violence. I believe Goa in particular and India, in general, is a less violent society. We have no gun culture in our country. In other countries, there are frequent shootouts. Even schools are not spared. We are a far more pacifist society. Zero tolerance means that every act of violence would be lawfully prosecuted. And no one is above law. Being an iconic tourist destination, it has always been our endeavour to handle crime with firmness. Goa Police has one of the highest detection rates in the country, that is what zero tolerance means. That all kinds of errant behaviour be investigated and prosecuted.
