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11 Aug 2023
GS Paper 4
Case Studies
Day 23: You are a young and dynamic IPS officer posted as the Superintendent of Police in a district notorious for communal violence. You have been working hard to maintain law and order and prevent any communal flare-ups in your jurisdiction. You have also earned the respect and trust of the local people and the administration for your honesty, impartiality and efficiency.
One day, you receive a call from your senior, the Director General of Police (DGP), who is also your mentor and guide. He tells you that he has received a tip-off from a reliable source that a large consignment of illegal arms and explosives is being smuggled into your district by a notorious gangster who has links with some extremist groups. He says that the consignment is expected to reach a remote village in your district by nightfall, and that it is meant to be used for carrying out a series of bomb blasts in various places of worship during the upcoming festival season. He says that this is a very sensitive and urgent matter, and that you have to act swiftly and decisively to stop the consignment and arrest the gangster and his associates.
He also tells you that he has arranged for a special team of commandos from the state police headquarters to assist you in this operation. He says that the team will reach your district by evening, and that you have to coordinate with them and lead the operation. He says that he has full confidence in your abilities and judgment, and that he expects you to deliver results.
However, he also warns you that there is a catch. He says that the tip-off has come from a rival gangster who is an old enemy of the gangster involved in the arms smuggling. He says that the rival gangster has offered to provide more details about the location and movement of the consignment, but on one condition. He wants you to eliminate his enemy during the operation, and make it look like an encounter. He says that he will not cooperate otherwise, and that he has enough influence and contacts to sabotage the operation if his demand is not met.
He says that this is a golden opportunity to get rid of two birds with one stone, and that you should not let it go waste. He says that he understands the ethical dilemma you may face, but he urges you to be pragmatic and flexible in this situation. He says that sometimes, you have to compromise on some principles for the greater good of the society. He says that this is one such situation, where you have to choose between saving hundreds of innocent lives and following the rule of law.
He says that he will not force you to do anything against your will, but he expects you to do what is best for the nation. He says that he will support you in whatever decision you take, but he also reminds you of your duty and responsibility as an IPS officer. He asks you to think carefully and act wisely.
What will you do in this situation? Explain the ethical issues involved and justify your decision.Approach
- Discuss the case in brief.
- Discuss the stakeholders and ethical issues involved in the case.
- Mention the possible course of action to tackle the issue.
- Conclude your by providing justification to your course of action.
Answer:
As a young and dynamic IPS officer, you find yourself facing a complex and ethically challenging situation. On one hand, there is a credible threat of communal violence, and your duty as the Superintendent of Police is to protect the lives and safety of the people in your jurisdiction. On the other hand, you are being asked to compromise the rule of law and take part in an extrajudicial action against a criminal suspect, even if he is a rival gangster.
Stakeholders and Ethical issues involved in the case:
Stakeholder Ethical Issue You as IPS officer Duty to protect the public from potential harm and violence vs. duty to uphold the rule of law and human rights Your senior (DGP) Loyalty to your mentor and guide vs. loyalty to your ethical values and professional integrity Your subordinates Conscience and morality vs. obedience and hierarchy Gangster involved in arms smuggling Right to life and fair trial vs. accountability and punishment for crimes Rival gangster Self-interest and revenge vs. cooperation and public interest Public Safety and security vs. justice and rule of law This is a very challenging situation that tests your ethical values and professional integrity as an IPS officer. You must balance the conflicting demands of your duty, loyalty, conscience and morality in this case.
Possible course of action:
- Verification of the Tip-Off: Before taking any action, you should verify the information received from the reliable source. Ensure that the intelligence is credible and corroborated by multiple sources to avoid any potential misinformation.
- Deployment and Coordination: Immediately inform the special team of commandos from the state police headquarters about the situation and ensure they reach the district as soon as possible. Establish proper coordination and communication with the team to plan the operation effectively.
- Legal Consultation: Seek legal advice from the district's legal experts or higher authorities regarding the steps to be taken while dealing with the gangster and the arms consignment. This will ensure that the operation remains within the boundaries of the law.
- Enhanced Security Measures: As the consignment is expected to reach a remote village, deploy additional police forces to set up checkpoints, conduct vehicle searches, and intensify patrolling in the area to intercept the smugglers.
- Intelligence Gathering: Concurrently, intensify intelligence gathering efforts to track the movements of the gangster and his associates. Utilize local informants and technology to aim to pinpoint their location accurately.
- Arrest Strategy: Instead of staging an encounter, prioritize the objective to arrest the gangster and his associates and recover the illegal arms and explosives. This will provide evidence for a lawful prosecution in court.
- Negotiations with Rival Gangster: While you cannot comply with the rival gangster's demand for an extrajudicial killing, attempt to engage in dialogue to gather additional information about the consignment's location and movement. However, any such information should only be used to carry out a lawful operation.
- Public Awareness: Involve the local community and religious leaders in spreading awareness about the potential threat of communal violence and urge them to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace and security.
- Media Management: In the interest of operational security, ensure that sensitive information related to the operation is not leaked to the media, and only official statements are released after successful completion of the mission.
While the ethical dilemmas are complex and challenging, as an IPS officer, your responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of the people while upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law. By conducting the operation lawfully and professionally, you can achieve your objective without compromising your integrity and ethics. Remember, as you carry out your duties, the well-being of the community and the adherence to ethical standards should always be at the forefront of your actions.
