The Goa government has notified the National Security Act (NSA) across both north and districts for three months starting November 5, citing “prevailing circumstances.” The order authorises district collectors to issue preventive-detention orders and empowers an NSA advisory board led by former Bombay High Court judge U. V. Bakre to review cases. 


Officials said preventive arrests since August were “insufficient to neutralise repeat offenders and organised elements,” referencing recent incidents including the alleged assault on activist Rama Kankonkar in Caranzalem near Panaji. Under the NSA, individuals can be detained for up to 12 months to prevent acts “prejudicial to public order.” 



The Home Department said the measure applies statewide and comes into force upon publication in the Official Gazette; oversight will include cooperation with jail authorities to monitor “habitual offenders.” Local reports note that the government will assess whether to extend the notification after the initial three-month window; for now, it is framed as a deterrent. The move follows Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s earlier direction to police to seek the notification. Rights groups and opposition parties have flagged concerns. Why does a small coastal state with typically lower violent-crime metrics require such a stringent law’s blanket application for three months, the Opposition questioned, adding that this reeks of executive overreach. The government reasons that this is to rein in ‘anti-social’ elements.