VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Two internal inquiries in two months. Police patrolling teams in the buzzing northern coastal belt have come under the radar after department bosses were made aware of what some of their field staff are up to during night patrolling.
A review of the beat policing system has been a long and ongoing debate as the department battles allegations of extortion and blackmail by a section of the patrolling teams.
Highly placed sources told Herald that a PCR patrolling team is facing inquiry for allegedly extorting Rs 5,000 from four persons, employees of starred hotels, last weekend. A sub inspector, hawaldar, constable driver and a home guard are amongst the ones named in the inquiry report.
The group of persons was found to be violating COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and Section 144 CrPC while they sat leisurely at Sinquerim fort. The policemen threatened to book them for the violation and also drag them to the police station. The group of boys and girls objected to the behaviour of the policemen that indicated a demand for bribe.
“The cops finally demanded Rs 15,000 to let them off. The deal was finalised at Rs 5,000. The youth were taken to an ATM centre and made to withdraw the amount and was then paid to the patrolling team,” the source revealed.
The CCTV camera installed inside and at the
entrance of the ATM centre has recorded the action, which is probably a part of the inquiry. Questions also arise as to why the patrolling team was at Sinquerim while their duty point was at Baga.
This is not a stray incident. About two months ago, the same night patrolling squad forced a man to pay them Rs 25,000. It so happened that the man was caught smoking weed along with an acquaintance. The policemen warned them of action while one of the cops snatched the man’s mobile phone. On browsing through the text messages, it was found that a whopping amount was credited into his account.
Sources said an impromptu interrogation revealed the man’s involvement in a cricket betting racket. Instead of reporting the matter to the concerned police station or their higher ups, the man was made to pay a bribe of Rs 25,000 to keep the patrolling team’s mouth shut. What’s interesting is that the policemen had crossed their jurisdiction to Anjuna.
The following day when the Anjuna Police was informed about the extortion, the policemen were made to pay back the amount to the alleged bookie. In both the cases, the police brass is yet to decide on taking action against the policemen.
Goa Police, if not the entire force, has a record of resorting to mischievous way of guarding the State during the late hours.
About four years ago, two constables, then attached to Panjim Police Control Room were suspended for dereliction of duty by the then North Goa SP Kartik Kashyap. The constables formerly attached with Robert 2 (PCR vehicle) were found missing from their posting point at Divja Circle and Kashyap, in a surprise visit located them at Patto Plaza. The personnel could not give satisfactory response for their absence nor made an official entry into the log book about their different location. They were reinstated later but the swift action by the IPS officer tightened the noose around the patrolling teams until his transfer to another State.
In a recent online meeting with his subordinates, Director General of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena has asked for an audit of the patrolling and beat police. The department, Herald has learnt, is also contemplating transferring field officers who have spent many years in the same posting.
