Team Herald
MARGAO: The tragic death of advocate Jayant Prabhu has sparked a critical discussion on the conduct of police officers and whether they need to emulate the aggressive behaviour often depicted by movie characters like ‘Singham.’
Advocate Pritam Morais, a Margao-based lawyer and former Special Public Prosecutor, voiced concerns that the police generally display contempt and disrespect for the public. He highlighted that in the present case, the female complainant had expressed dissatisfaction with the professionalism of the police in handling her case. The situation escalated when the father of the accused took his own life and left a suicide note holding the police responsible for his death - suggesting a failure on the part of the police to fulfil their duties towards both the victim and the accused’s family.
Morais called for introspection within the police department regarding their conduct and operational procedures.
Sanjit Dessai, President of the Quepem-Sanguem Advocates Association, called for police officers to be sensitised on how to interact with the public. He pointed out that police stations should be people-friendly. "The registration of an FIR against the police official should act as an eye-opener for all police officials that they are not above the law," Dessai remarked. He added that the suicide note suggests that the investigating officer failed to follow basic investigative protocols, indicating a lack of sensitivity in handling the situation.
Social worker Mahesh Nayak of Jai Damodar reiterated that “The primary role of the police is to uphold and enforce the law impartially, protect life and property, and maintain public order.”