ANAJI
A growing trail of suspensions, criminal accusations and internal probes has pushed the Goa police into an uncomfortable glare, as allegations of custodial violence, corruption and complicity with organised crime continue to surface from within its own ranks.
Nearly a dozen and a half personnel including sub-inspectors, have been suspended in the last 10 months alone, in cases that stretch from custodial assault and dereliction of duty to bribery and links with criminal networks.
The latest flashpoint is the alleged custodial assault of 37-year-old Navelim resident Edberg Pereira, who, according to his family and activists, was beaten inside the Margao police station. Police Sub-Inspector Nilesh Shirvoikar was suspended and now faces criminal charges for causing grievous hurt and violating procedural safeguards while on duty.
An internal inquiry is underway, with Director General of Police Alok Kumar maintaining that disciplinary action must follow due process. “The punishment given should be proportionate. It should not be that wherever there is a mistake, the person is automatically punished. This is a matter of inquiry,” he said, responding to questions from the media on Monday.
In February, IRB Assistant Sub-Inspector Suraj Toraskar was arrested for allegedly facilitating the supply of drugs and contraband to inmates in Colvale Central Jail. Head constable Rameshwar Talkar, probationary constable Prasad Shetye and an assistant jailer were suspended soon after. The month before, another IRB constable, Navdeep Pavane, was suspended after he was caught attempting to smuggle narcotics and mobile phones into the prison.
More recently, two IRB constables, Rishikesh Mahale and Gangaram Mahale, were among five men arrested in connection with a firing incident linked to sand smuggling in Pernem.
Not too long ago, in Calangute, PSI Yogesh Mandrekar was suspended after an inquiry found he had failed to carry his service weapon while responding to a violent clash involving tourists -- a lapse flagged as serious dereliction of duty.
Corruption allegations have surfaced repeatedly as well. In April, the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Konkan Railway Police Inspector Sunil Guddlar and Constable Hussain Mohammed for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe from a meat trader from Belgaum. Both were suspended.
Three constables Amar Gaonkar, Siddesh Shirodkar, and Satyam Desai attached to Colva police station were also suspended for allegedly taking money from a scrap dealer, while the station’s inspector was quietly transferred and a sub-inspector was placed under internal scrutiny. In September, a Valpoi constable Rupesh Malik was suspended for allegedly seeking Rs 10,000 from a local businessman, even though the wireless message did not mention the reason for his suspension.
The department has received complaints against over 200 police personnel for their alleged involvement in different crimes, including corruption, in the last five years. It led to a few suspensions, FIRs even as some were reinstated into service.
