PANAJI: Policing has changed drastically in Goa with new laws, active civil society and human rights activists, Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar opined on Friday, on a day the top cop retired on superannuation after 38 years of donning the uniform.
Narrating situations which lead to his occupying important and crucial policing positions, Gaonkar thanked divine intervention for getting the postings, despite his unfavourable disposition with the political executive, many a times through his career.
Gaonkar also opined that many officers in the department are overburdened and there is an urgent need for recruiting more men.
“Ad-hoc appointments and promotions also hamper the police officers eventually affecting the policing. Careers of sincere policemen get affected,” Gaonkar said.
Gaonkar was known for his gentle mannerisms in dealing with complainants and citizenry in general of his jurisdictions. Another attribute of the senior police officer was his tact in handling the law-and-order situation during agitations, successfully.
When posted as South Goa SP he took all efforts to control Bajrang Dal activists and overall law and order in the district.
On Friday, at a farewell function, Gaonkar who joined the force in 1981, thanked his colleagues for their cooperation throughout his tenure.
Following his training at Nasik, he had worked on probation at the Dadar police station in Mumbai where he was rewarded by the Police Commissioner of Greater Mumbai for his contribution in detecting serious crimes. His first posting in Goa was as police sub-inspector at the Mapusa police station.
During his stint in the ANC, Gaonkar was instrumental in identifying Afghan refugees staying in India as the main sources of Hashish and Charas. Thereafter, he worked as police station in-charge in Ribandar, Margao Rural (now Maina-Curtorim police station) and Calangute.
In 1991, he was promoted as a police inspector and posted as in-charge of Panaji police station.
He was awarded Chief Ministers police Gold medal in 1993 and also had the credit of solving some infamous contract killing cases when posted in Margao. He was also awarded the President’s police medal for meritorious service in August 2001.
In 2002, he was promoted as DySP and as SDPO Margao he handled effectively the situation in 2008 during the communal tension at Davorlim and Margao between two groups.
In 2009 at the time of the Narkasur Day blast at Margao, he headed the operations that controlled the situation and was instrumental in apprehending the accused.
He was promoted as superintendent of police in 2014. During his 38-year service, he received 56 cash rewards, 82 commendation certificates and 48 appreciation letters. In August 2016 President’s police medal for distinguished service was conferred on him.
