Goa cops made to do squats for stopping IAS officer’s car for checking

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North Goa SP Harischandra Madkaikar allegedly made personnel from the Old Goa Police Station do squats at his office after they stopped a vehicle belonging to an IAS officer posted with a central government office at a checkpoint in Santa Cruz.

Acording to a report by the Times of India, personnel from the Old Goa police and the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) had set up a blockade in Santa Cruz, during which a vehicle bearing a BR registration number and heading towards Panaji was stopped for checking.

When the driver was asked for his licence, he waved his ID card, saying he was an IAS officer and left the place. The officer returned to the spot a few minutes later, opened the trunk of his car and threw the items on the road, asking the police to “now check the car."

The IAS officer then collected his items from the road, put them back in his trunk and left the place. Later, he called a senior police officer and complained about the incident. Madkaikar was asked to inquire into the complaint, and he called the police personnel on duty to his office and ordered them to do squats.

Goa DGP Alok Kumar said Madkaikar’s actions were unwarranted. “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," he told TOI.

He also said the punishment given to police personnel could demoralise the force from carrying out their duties. The police headquarters is keeping an eye on the situation and trying to send the message that officers on duty should be treated according to the rules.