Panaji: A controversy erupted in North Goa on Tuesday when SP Harischandra Madkaikar allegedly ordered police personnel attached to the Old Goa police station to do squats at his Porvorim office. The action followed an incident in which the personnel had stopped a central government IAS officer during a nakabandi (vehicle check) at Santa Cruz.
Incident During Nakabandi
According to a senior police officer familiar with the situation, police personnel from Old Goa Police and the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) had stopped a vehicle with a BR registration number heading toward Panaji for routine verification.
When the driver was asked to move the vehicle slightly ahead and show his license, he reportedly waved his IAS ID card, identifying himself as a central government officer, and left the spot.
Moments later, the IAS officer returned, opened the boot of his car, emptied its contents onto the road, and told the police personnel to conduct the inspection. After this, the officer collected his belongings, put them back in the boot, and departed.
The officer then reportedly lodged a complaint with a senior police official about the incident.
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SP Orders Squats, DGP Intervenes
Following the complaint, SP Madkaikar reportedly summoned the police personnel involved in the nakabandi to his office and instructed them to perform squats as a form of punishment.
A senior officer remarked, “Such punishment demoralises the force from doing their duties.”
Goa Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar termed the SP’s action unwarranted, saying,
“I have spoken to the SP and told him that he should follow the rule book instead of asking police personnel to do squats. I have also instructed him to give proper briefings to police personnel deployed at nakabandi and that they should behave courteously while checking vehicles.“
Concerns Over Police Morale and Protocol
Officials emphasized that the incident raises concerns over disciplinary measures and the morale of police personnel performing routine duties. Directives from senior police leadership now focus on ensuring that officers at nakabandi adhere to protocol while dealing with civilians, including government officials, without compromising enforcement duties.
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