In an unusual move, the Goa Police Complaints Authority has asked a police inspector it found guilty of misconduct, to put in hours of social service as part of his ‘penance.’
Police Inspector Vishwesh Karpe has been asked to perform educative classes in the premises of 10 village panchayats over a period of one year for failure to immediately register a First Information Report in a case of custodial death. The order issued by the authority’s chief retired High Court judge RMS Khandeparkar has asked the police department to identify 10 village panchayat jurisdictions in consultation with the State Government and ensure that police inspector Vishwesh Karpe performs social service there for one year.
“On performance of such service, within 15 days therefrom, the Inspector shall file the report with the office of the authority as well as Inspector General (IG) of Police,” says the order. Karpe will have to give educative sessions on the role of the police in society and their functions, duties and responsibilities.
The order asks that the social service hours be in addition to his duty hours. Karpe, then the in-charge of the Agaçaim police station, was accused by the family of one Cipriano Fernandes who died when in police custody, of resisting and not filing an FIR in the case of his death. Cypriano Fernandes, a sailor, was allegedly killed in police custody in Panaji, in 2011.