Why Goa govt has invoked NSA for 3 months
The Goa government has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) for three months, citing "prevailing circumstances" and the need to counter repeat offenders and organised elements. This stringent Act grants authorities power to detain individuals for up to 12 months to maintain public order. The decision follows insufficient preventive arrests and rising public concern over violent incidents.
New Delhi: Effective from November 5, the Goa government has officially invoked the National Security Act (NSA) across the state. It will remain in force for three months. The government cited "the prevailing circumstances in North Goa and South Goa” behind the move.
The stringent Act gives authorities the power to detain persons for up to 12 months to avert actions considered detrimental to public order.
The NSA decision came just days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant issued directions to the police to submit a formal proposal for its notification. Earlier, several preventive arrests were made that officials believed were "proving insufficient to neutralise repeat offenders and organised elements”. And hence, the NSA was deemed necessary.
In their proposal, the Goa Police pointed out that since August 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”.
'Strictly act against anti-social elements'
Sawant also serves as the state’s Home Minister. He underlined that his government would "strictly act against anti-social elements creating a nuisance in the state". The process to invoke NSA has started and a notification will be issued soon, he had earlier said.
According to police sources, the NSA decision was driven by mounting public concern over a spate of violent incidents. Recently, the alleged assault on activist Rama Kankonkar had sparked protests by citizens, opposition leaders, and human rights groups. History-sheeter Zenito Cardozo was among eight persons arrested in the case.
The police proposal said: "In these prevailing circumstances, it is felt necessary that the district magistrate, North Goa, be authorised to exercise powers under Section 3(2) of NSA for a specified period, in order to prevent activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.”
Before issuing the notification, the Home Department had initiated the setting up of an advisory board chaired by a sitting or retired High Court judge. The person must be presented before the advisory board within a stipulated period once a detention order is issued.
After the Collector issues a six-month detention order, it is submitted to the High Court review committee, which examines the order within 15 to 20 days. To justify an individual's detention under the NSA, the police must build an airtight case against the person. If the police is unable to do so, the individual can be released within 20 days of the Collector's order.