With an eye on increasing instances of extortion and the high tourist traffic expected during the forthcoming peak season in December, the Goa government Friday invoked the National Security Act (NSA) in the state for a period of three months.
A notification to the effect was issued by the home ministry Friday extending to both the north and south Goa districts of the state.
A day before notification was issued, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the media that cases of extortion hace been rising in Goa, which has forced him to think of clamping the NSA on the state.
"There are many instances of extortion being reported. I have asked SPs (superintendents of police) of both districts to send me a report. We might have to invoke the NSA to tackle this problem," Parrikar said Thursday.
Under the NSA, the state as well as central government can detain a person in the name of law and order for a period of 12 months.
The NSA also comes a few days ahead of Goa's peak tourism season from mid-December to early January, when the state's roads are clogged with hundreds of thousands of tourists, who flock to the state known for its beaches and nightlife.