Police should be the ones looking for Indira's daughter

LETTER | Although the police do not have any substantial progress in locating Indira Gandhi's daughter, Prasana Diksa, there seem to be a dearth of leads available after a reward of RM10,000 was offered to whoever gives information that leads to Prasana. 

Unfortunately, there are many unscrupulous people out there who will try their luck ro claim the reward with false information. 

The means to verify all these information will be quite limited in the hands of civilians especially if it involves cross border investigations. 

Indira and her family should tread with care as they may be taken for a ride many times over. It is actually better to leave it officially to the police however skeptical Indra may be of their efforts.

Nevertheless, it is disheartening to note that the police are unable to trace the whereabouts of Indra's daughter till today. This is unacceptable by any standards of modern policing.

The police have always taken great pride in all their roles and functions as enshrined in the police act. 

They have in all the battles against crime and keeping the peace throughout their history, never been solely dependent on voluntary information from the public.

Professional policing requires expertise in the procurement and gathering of intelligence. It is a key function of the police. 

Detection of crime and connecting facts, is the product of effective procurement and gathering of intelligence. 

Procurement of intelligence by itself is a skill and trait that is mastered by the police especially by those attached to all operational units linked to covert and overt methods. 

It encompasses all modes of obtaining the required information without the direct participation of the public. 

It is this part of policing that makes up, neutralises and compensates for the lack of voluntary public information. 

This segment of police expertise sets it aside from other professions. Most civilians think they know policing but in reality there is more than what meets the eye in the craft of real police work. It is risky but it comes with the terrain and mostly expertly handled by experienced police personnel.

Missing persons must be traced, witnesses must be produced, perpetrators, suspects, etc must be brought consistently to the halls of the criminal justice system as this is the hallmark of police work. 

This consistency not only strikes fear into would be criminals and keeps the peace but it also boosts public confidence in the police. 

Expert police craft demands that they never succumb to admitting that they are incapable of carrying out their roles and functions in any situation. It is a trait that is acquired with experience, confidence and knowledge. 

The police must constantly be seen to deliver what is expected of them however difficult their task may be.

Having all the various channels to obtain relevant information at their disposal be it voluntary or otherwise. 

The inability to trace and produce a witness that has been dealt with by the courts, is hard to accept. Not only the police are accountable but those representing these untraceable witnesses during proceedings should shoulder part of the blame.

Internally, the police were always pressured to be all knowing and all seeing. The top cops demanded that, of all those who served in the intelligence divisions. We seem to have settled for less over the years.

In the words of a senior police officer I once served under, "if the police do not know, then who is supposed to know?".

We do not expect the men in blue to solve every matter before them but there must be consistency in delivering the goods in high-profile cases especially those of public interest. 

This will ensure that public confidence and trust is maintained at all times and the police stay relevant.

I hope it is not asking too much of the inspector-general of police to find Indra's daughter before he retires.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.