Allegations that the Superintendent of Police for North Goa, Harischandra Madkaikar, compelled personnel from Old Goa Police Station to perform squats inside his office have triggered scrutiny within the police force and raised wider questions about command conduct and protocol. The episode is linked to an incident at a checkpoint in Santa Cruz, where officers had stopped a vehicle said to belong to an Indian Administrative Service officer attached to a central government office.
According to accounts circulating within official and media circles, the checkpoint was part of routine policing activity when the vehicle was intercepted. The stop reportedly led to objections, followed by communication up the chain of command. The personnel involved were later summoned to the office of the district police chief, where they were allegedly ordered to do squats as a disciplinary measure, a practice widely viewed as degrading and outside formal service rules.
The matter has drawn attention because it touches on two sensitive fault lines: the relationship between the police and senior civil servants, and the boundaries of internal discipline within uniformed services. Police manuals and service conduct rules emphasise proportionality, due process, and respect for personal dignity when dealing with subordinates. Physical punishments or actions that may be construed as humiliation are not prescribed disciplinary tools under standard operating procedures.
Officers familiar with policing norms in Goa said checkpoints are routinely deployed to enforce traffic rules, verify documents, and maintain public order. Personnel stationed at such points are expected to stop vehicles without fear or favour, provided the checks are lawful and proportionate. The alleged instruction to penalise officers for performing a stop has therefore prompted questions about whether frontline staff were being discouraged from carrying out their duties.
Senior police officials have not publicly detailed their version of events, and no formal statement has been issued confirming or denying the allegation. Madkaikar has been described by colleagues as an officer with a reputation for strict supervision, though the present claim has placed that approach under a harsher light. The absence of an official clarification has fuelled calls for an internal inquiry to establish what transpired and whether any rules were breached.
The involvement of an IAS officer has added a further layer of sensitivity. Vehicles used by senior civil servants are not exempt from lawful checks unless specific security protocols apply. Retired officers note that professional courtesy between services does not override the legal authority of police personnel performing their assigned duties. Any perception that police action is curtailed when influential individuals are involved risks undermining public confidence in equal application of the law.
Police associations and informal networks of serving personnel have expressed unease, arguing that punitive practices reminiscent of informal drill punishments erode morale. While discipline is integral to policing, they contend that it must be enforced through established channels such as written explanations, warnings, or departmental proceedings rather than public or physical reprimands.
Human rights advocates have also weighed in, pointing out that humiliation as punishment can have lasting psychological effects and is inconsistent with constitutional principles of dignity. They argue that even within hierarchical services, authority carries an obligation to model lawful and ethical behaviour, particularly when dealing with subordinates.
The episode comes at a time when police forces across the country are under pressure to balance firmness with accountability. Public expectations of transparency have increased, and internal actions that once remained unseen are now more likely to surface through media reporting and digital communication. Experts say this places a premium on senior officers demonstrating restraint and adherence to codified procedures.
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