Third degree methods - are they effective?
It is easy to obtain a statement by thrashing the deponent, especially in Customs matters as the statement has a lot of validity. Police officers are notorious for beating up any one who is called to a station, but premier investigation agencies like DRI are accused of routinely using third degree to extract a statement. It is true that you can get a statement far more easily by a few slaps rather than polite questioning. But who has given you the power to beat another human being? If the man whom you beat has committed an offence, are you not committing an offence by beating him?. So ultimately it is one criminal beating another. If the smuggler has to go to jail for smuggling, the officer who beats him also has to go to jail for physical assault.
But why should perfectly normal lovable human beings suddenly start beating up people once they join organizations like DRI? Is it an urge to perform? Is it an expression of the sadistic side of his life? Or is it the belief that nothing will happen to ME!
But once in a way something does happen - like somebody dies in custody after a brutal interrogation. All hell is let loose. The department gets a very bad name and some officers will spend a few traumatic years. Is it worth it? Our super sleuths in DRI and other agencies should ponder over this.