Goa govt set to invoke NSA in state to crack down on anti-social elements

Panaji: Goa govt has decided to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) to crack down on anti-social elements in the state. Under this law, police can detain a person for up to 12 months. Chief minister Pramod Sawant told TOI on Saturday that “the process has started to invoke NSA in the state and a notification will be issued soon”.

Goa police said that since Aug 1, many offenders have been taken into custody under preventive arrest sections and produced before the sub-divisional magistrate, “but these measures are proving insufficient to neutralise repeat offenders and organised elements, who are likely to act in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”.

Sawant said that govt doesn’t want “any anti-social elements creating a nuisance in the state, and we will strictly act against them”.

He directed Goa police to move a formal request to issue a notification to invoke the NSA. Under this notification, collectors are empowered to hear and decide cases reported to them by police to invoke the law against antisocial elements.

Based on the CM’s direction, Goa police moved a detailed proposal to invoke the NSA. “In these prevailing circumstances, it is felt necessary that the district magistrate, North Goa, be authorised to exercise powers under Section 3(2) of the NSA for a specified period, in order to prevent activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order,” said Goa police.

Police also mentioned the recent alleged assault incident on activist Rama Kankonkar. Goa police arrested eight persons in connection with the attack, including a 36-year-old history-sheeter and Santa Cruz resident, Zenito Cardozo.

Kankonkar was allegedly assaulted with a cycle chain, had his shirt torn, and cow dung rubbed on his face by six people at Caranzalem last Thursday afternoon. Before leaving, they also photographed him. After the incident, the accused left the spot on two-wheelers. The entire incident took place within two minutes, as per CCTV footage.

Former DIG Bosco George said that Goa police have to present a watertight case before the collector to issue an order under NSA against any particular anti-social elements. George said that after the collector passes an order to detain a person for twelve months, it is placed before the review committee of the high court.

“The order is reviewed by the review committee of the high court within 15 to 20 days, and if police did not present a watertight case before the review committee, the detained person can be released within 20 days of the collector’s order,” he said.