Sigh of Relief: All Charges Against Daya Nayak 'Shot' Down
by Florine Roche
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 13 : Daya Nayak, of the encounter specialist fame, must be a relieved man after undergoing agony, humiliation, anguish, mudslinging and mental trauma for almost six years. Recently, the court has exonerated him of all the charges against in the disproportionate assets case, for want of evidence, and now he can heave a sigh of relief much to the exasperation of his detractors who wanted to keep him out. Now that Justice has been restored and Daya Nayak will be reinstated into the service in the Maharashtra police department, one wonders who will have to held accountable for those valuable six years lost by Daya personally, the Maharashtra police department in particular and the country in general.
Though Daya Nayak can once again walk with his head held high having absolved of the charges, on June 27, 2011, personally he paid a heavy price for being an honest and upright police officer and for having carried out a relentless crusade against the deadly underworld elements.
When Daijiworld met Daya Nayak in Mangalore yesterday to elicit his views following his acquittal, he looked more relaxed and relieved having passed through the ordeal. This became evident when he said “it is a great relief after 6 years of humiliation, trauma and the tag of being dishonest. Now I want to take the entire incident positively and want to work for the department for the remaining 17 years of my service. I am happy because finally truth has been revealed and justice has prevailed. I want to forget it as a bad chapter in my life”.
He went on to add “fortunately for me my superiors knew I was innocent. But some anti-social elements wanted to see me out so that they could carry on with their nefarious activities with impunity. They played a game but have not succeeded because I am loyal to my department and have not anything to slander its image”.
Despite the brave words one could see the pent up emotions waiting to come out in the open and the pain he has endured all these years when he was made to sit out indolently. But he looks much more mature and mellowed down and bears no rancor, though the vigor and determination to carry on the battle from where he was forced to stop, is very much palpable. When prodded to tell how he dealt with this entire episode and his vindication after so many years he says “I strongly believe if there are allegations there should be enquiry. But one has to ascertain the credentials of the person who has made the allegations before going ahead with the enquiry.
I felt sad and at times dejected because of the criminal background of those who made allegations and their motive. But now I am happy to bounce back and continue to work with the same enthusiasm and industriousness for which I was known for”. The whole incident has raised many eyebrows for the simple reason that police officials who had close nexus with the underworld and those who have taken bribes openly in lakhs and crores have gone scot-free and continue to be in service.
Daya Nayak, who hails from Yennehole, Karkala, the only non-Maharashtrian in the state police department, hit it upon big in the Maharashtra police department where underworld is ruling the roost. He carried out a ruthless fight against these elements from 1997 onwards as they were reigning terror in the state. With over 86 encounters and more than 1000 arrests of these bad elements Daya Nayak shot into national fame and was known with the epithet ‘encounter specialist’. His name and fame (apart from being a non Maharashtrian) must have peeved many in the department who had close ties with the underworld and from then onwards began a systematic plot to outmaneuver him. That he became a victim of the orchestrated moves of the combined efforts of the law enforcing and law-breaking elements is indeed disgusting.
Though there were moves to discredit him from 2002 onwards, it was the petition filed by a small time journalist Ketan Tirodkar with a criminal background, alleging that Daya Nayak had links with the underworld and that he possessed disproportionate assets that led to his arrest on a non-bailable warrant in February 2006. He was arrested and was in police custody for 14 days where his own department gave him a contumelious treatment. His arrest was given wide publicity and though the case was for disproportionate assets up to Rs. 41 lakhs the smear campaign went on alleging that assets worth about 9 crores were recovered. Within no time, Daya Nayak who had climbed up the ladder of success by his determination and virile efforts, fell from grace due to the deceitful acts of those who had an axe to grind.
One can say during the 5 years Daya Nayak conducted himself well trying to spend more time with his family and also associating closely with the government school he has set up at Yennehole. The public, however, knew the game well and Daya Nayak, fortunately, did not face any humiliation from them. He is looked upon by many with awe and adulation wherever he goes. One could see people queuing up to shake hands with him or to take his autograph in public functions. This admiration from the public must have helped him during these years to get on with the reality.
So there is an element of sincerity when he says “I did not want to give up the fight because that would have set a bad example for the youngsters who are inclined to serve the country and the police force. I cannot disappoint them and that has been one of the motivating factors for me to keep fighting”, he asserts. Having used to work for 18 hours a day and that too in trying to match every trick and manipulation of the underworld for so many years, sitting at home languorously was a punishment in itself and one has to say hats off to Daya for keeping him mental and physical equilibrium intact. Known as a fitness freak, he must have found consolation in working out in the gym and directing all his frustrations there. It shows on his well toned and well maintained body.
Now that Daya Nayak has been exonerated one cannot help but ask this nagging question - whether his suspension was his personal loss or the loss of the state and country. It is indeed a trifle sad and extremely regrettable that he, who had earned a name as an upright and no-nonsense police officer who sent shivers in the spines of the underworld elements, lost prime years of his service. What about the loss to the police department and to the country during these six years? The underworld became active once again during these years and gained an upper hand and it culminated in the tragic 26/11 incident which has led to loss of lives, property and has rendered a severe blow to the morale of the police. Daya Nayak says “it was painful to sit at home doing nothing watching an incident like 26/11. The pain of seeing people dying crying for help and terrorist spreading mayhem and doing nothing was a bigger punishment and everything else fades to insignificance”.
One has to wait and see whether Daya Nayak will be reinstated in the crime branch which had catapulted him to fame or whether he will be shunted out to some insignificant department. The department can keep him away from the crime branch at its own peril. A few years ago the Mumbai Police Department boasted of 5 encounter specialists (ES’s) and over the years their strength has depleted. The underworld was bent upon eliminating the ESs and these specialists were suspended, arrested or sent to some insignificant departments. The last of the bunch in active service Vijay Salaskar lost his life to the terrorists in 26/11. Now that Daya Nayak will be reinstated, he will be the one and only Encounter Specialist and the department cannot afford to ignore him.
Though Daya Nayak emerged on the national scene as an Encounter Specialist, the man is not happy with the sobriquet and says “people call me encounter specialist which is not a good nickname. I am not a rigger-happy man or feel happy killing people but am forced to do that because otherwise there would be much more bloodshed and mayhem. I am just a small cog in the wheel of police department working for the good of the country”.
It is indeed a great relief not only to Daya but also to the people of Dakshina Kannada as Daya Nayak, belongs to this place and found his way to glory through hard work. Now he can go back to the department once again holding his head high and one hopes he continues with the good work with the same tempo and energy.
From daijiworld archives (2007)