A super-cop par bravado: President’s Award winner ACP V S D’Souza
 

By Raymond D’Cunha Taccode  

This super cop stands at par with other great police heroes like Julius Rebeiro and Sangliana. He is one of the rarest, who has received the Indian President's award for his excellent track of records in Police department.   

We are proud to mention that this great achiever is none other than ACP V S D'Souza, yet another star in the galaxy of stars in our community. 

 

Victor Shaw D'Souza is presently posted in Bangalore's Frazer Town as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).  The police area consists of 15.5 square kilometres and has a population of 6.5 lakh.  It has been one of the most sensitive areas in Bangalore with all kinds of disturbances including communal riots, goondaism and burglary.  

Birth and childhood: 

Victor's father Shaw D'Souza was working as a postmaster in places like Haliyal and Carmelina. Originally a Goan, Shaw D'Souza's parents had migrated to Dharwad and settled there.  Victor was born on February 12, 1954. He is one among four sons and a daughter of Shaw D'Souza.  

Victor did his schooling in a Kannada medium school in Haliyal.  An average student, Victor acquired a Bachelor's Degree from Karnataka University in 1974.

 Police Career: 

After completing police training with bright colours, he was appointed Sub-Inspector in Magadi Road Police Station.  He was just 19 then. He also served as Sub-Inspector in Jnana Bharathi, Alsoor Gate, Kushala Nagar, Jag Jeevanram Nagar police stations.  At more than one area, he successfully tackled communal riots for which he was awarded with National Integration Award in 1990.  His bravery was duly recognized by the department, and he was promoted to Circle Inspector of Police.  Was posted to J C Nagar, a communal torn area, then in Vijaya Nagar Circle and later on in Alsoor Gate Circle.  Recognizing his outstanding capabilities and great bravery, he was transferred to riot-hit place of Commercial Street Circle and later to a highly sensitive area of Tilak Nagar Circle.  Wherever he was posted, he displayed great skills of intelligence and bravery, successfully nabbing these dangerous areas as well as he installed peace and harmony to the maximum.

In a bid to revamp and re-organize the State intelligence, D'Souza was then posted to Intelligence bureau for 2 years.  He gave his services in the Highway Squad, Coastal Guard, which could have been setup only because of his great abilities.

 Achievements of bravery:

At Vijaya Nagar Circle, D'Souza has most dexterously nabbed three notoriously dangerous gangs and has imposed 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on these gangs.  During the 1989 Bangalore blasts, he arrested the rowdy responsible for the blasts and seized cash of 40 lakhs, 52 country made guns and pistols.  During another ride, he exposed and curbed a counterfeit notes racket.  Victor takes the credit of arresting Muthappa Rai along with 15 other members of his gang, apart from recovering huge amount of arms and ammunitions. V S D'Souza was an active member of the team which arrested Shivarasan, the main accused in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.  D'Souza has led his team to curb disturbances during the Cauvery water dispute and has toiled to maintain peace in Bangalore.  While on duty at Commercial Street Police Station, he seized loads of drugs like heroin, brown sugar, worth 3 crores.  He has charge sheeted 30 people on charges of murder, whose cases have been ended with conviction.  A kidney racket investigated and exposed by D'Souza incited the nation to implicate strict laws in 1995 [Organ Transplantation Act].  Another feather in his cap is the successful tracing of Church blast case. In 2002, his squad arrested 11 members of LTTE and seized loads of bombs, grenades, guns, ammunitions and pistols.

Awards and appreciations:

Victor D'Souza has been given numerous police department awards as well as he has been conferred with several civilian honours, some of which are listed as follows:

 

1] Victor Shaw D'Souza worked in over 170 cash-awarding missions in which he fetched a cash share of Rs 78 Thousand.
2] His service register has been marked with good remarks by different cadres of officers of the Police 21 times.
3] Victor has received the departmental level appreciations 18 times.
4] 10 times, he has been awarded the official commendations from the police department.
5] National Integration Award was conferred on him in 1990.
6] Chief ministers' gold medal in 1991 (during Bangarappa's tenure).
7] Chief Ministers' Gold medal in 2001 (during S M Krishna's tenure).
8] Police Medal for meritorious services at Independence Day 2003. 
9] Victor was promoted to the highest rank of the cadre of Assistant Commissioner of Police [ACP].  Presently serving the most sensible and prestigious area called Frazer town In Bangalore.
10] The Karnataka High Court greatly appreciated his investigation report submitted with clear facts.
11] Indian President's award for his excellent record in Police department. 
12] And the most blessed one: Mother Teresa wrote to him: "After Christ, you are another person who accepts sinners".  Afterwards when she visited Bangalore, she personally blessed D'Souza.

Family:

Victor D'Souza is happily married to Diana of Mysore, and the couple has 2 children - son Martin studying in BBM, Daughter Manisha in 3rd standard.