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The Goa Police has written to the state government urging that district magistrates (DMs) be authorised to exercise powers under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), The Indian Express has learnt.
In a letter written to the state’s Home Department earlier this week, Goa police said that under the “prevailing circumstances, it is felt necessary” that DMs of the two districts be “authorised to exercise powers under section 3 (2) of the National Security Act for a specified period in order to prevent activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”.
The letter further said that since August 1, 2025, several offenders have been taken into custody under sections of preventive arrest and produced in front of sub-divisional magistrates, 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”.
The police missive comes a week after an activist, Rama Kankonkar, was assaulted, allegedly by at least seven people in Caranzalem near Panaji. The assailants, armed with chains and a knife, thrashed Kankonkar and smeared cow dung on his face.
The incident led to protests in Panaji last Friday, with the Opposition and activists terming the assault an attempt to “muzzle independent voices” and alleging a “collapse of law and order” in Goa. The protesters demanded the formation of a task force to probe the incident, police protection for Kankonkar and an impartial probe to identify the alleged “mastermind” of the attack, including any political links.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant last week assured strict action in the case, stating that “such incidents would not be tolerated”. Police have so far arrested eight people, including the prime accused, Zenito Cardozo (36), under whose instructions the assault allegedly took place. A local court in Panaji sent all eight accused to judicial custody on Friday. Police have also arrested a total of 23 people as a preventive measure under section 126/170 BNSS in the aftermath of the incident. The motive for the assault is yet to be established, with police suggesting that a prior “personal enmity” could be the reason.
In August, after an alleged fight between two armed gangs in South Goa’s Mungul, which left two injured, the police had arrested 23 people.
In its proposal to the government, the Goa police have cited past criminal records of habitual offenders, including data of people arrested under preventive measures in recent months and the fact that several accused arrested in the activist’s assault case are history-sheeters.
A police official said, “We have also written for the externment of certain repeat offenders and history-sheeters.”
A government official, requesting anonymity, confirmed that a proposal has been received from the police.
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