Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the state post-Pahalgam terror attack.
Addressing a press conference at Mantrayala in Porvorim on Friday, the chief minister said that three Pakistani nationals who are in the state on short-term visas have been asked to leave the country.
He said that there are 17 more Pakistani nationals who are in the state on long visas, and their activities are being monitored by the security agencies.
The officials of Central Industrial Security Force, Indian Navy, Goa Police, and Indian Coast Guard were present for the meeting which reviewed the situation in the state.
The chief minister said that the security measures will be increased in the coastal state with immediate effect while police have also been asked to conduct thorough checks on suspicious persons, including at railway stations and bus stands.
Sawant said that the combing operations will start in the settlements where migrant populations stay from tomorrow onwards.
“Those who are living in these settlements will have to produce their identity cards like Aadhar card or voting card. If they fail to do so, they will be detained for inquiry,” he said.
Sawant said that intense intelligence collection has started in the state. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the agencies.
Speaking further, the chief minister said that the police presence has been increased in the tourist places while introducing surprise Nakabandis during the daytime and also at night.
Sawant said that the Goa government will completely follow the advisory issued by the union government after the Pahalgam attack.
“The Kashmiri students and those who are living here for business purposes should contact the local police stations so that they will be provided with adequate security,” he said, appealing to citizens to maintain communal harmony in the state.
Sawant said that the police department is also monitoring social media and other platforms.
He said that those people who were earlier questioned for their connections with banned outfits like PFI and SDPI would be called to the police station again for regular checks.
Pointing out the coastal security, Sawant said that the state has 826 fishing trawlers and 1206 canoes. “There will be strict checks on the crew members working on these vessels. In the future, we will also introduce biometrics for them,” he said.
He said that the strict check will also be maintained at six landing jetties and 28 ramps in the state.
Sawant said that the migrants coming to weekly markets will have to carry their ID cards. If they are without valid proof, they will be taken into custody, he added.
“The hoteliers, and BNB rooms will have to compulsorily fill the C forms. The contractors will have to tenant verification of their labors,” he said.
The chief minister said that the security is also high on the state border check posts, including at Patradevi (North), Molem, and Polem (both South Goa).
