Panaji: The Goa government has blocked 512 escort service website URLs and intensified action against illegal online activities that tarnish the state’s image, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and other MLAs during the ongoing Assembly session, Sawant stated that the Cyber Crime Police Station has been actively cracking down on websites promoting commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
He added that the cyber crime unit has taken down or blocked 512 such websites and continues to monitor social media platforms through its Social Media Monitoring Cell to prevent such activities.
A case has also been registered at the Crime Branch Police Station under provisions of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act against operators of multiple websites allegedly posting sexually explicit content depicting women.
The Chief Minister highlighted that over the last three years, several cases have been registered under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and other relevant laws. According to government data, eight cases each were registered in 2024 and 2025, leading to the arrest of 18 accused in each year and the rescue of 19 and 23 victims respectively. In 2026, till March 9, two cases have been registered, three accused arrested, and nine victims rescued.
Sawant also stated that Goa has achieved a high rate of tracing missing children: 65 out of 67 in 2024, 68 out of 72 in 2025, and seven out of 11 in 2026 so far.
He said a dedicated Women Police Station is operational in Panaji, while Anti-Human Trafficking Units and Women and Child Protection Units function in Panaji and Margao to detect and prevent trafficking-related crimes. The Pink Force Unit has been established to increase police visibility and enhance safety for women and children across the state.
Women help desks are functional at all police stations in Goa, and helplines, including 1091, ERSS-112, and a dedicated WhatsApp number, are available round the clock for reporting crimes against women and children. Police personnel have also been deployed at airports, railway stations, bus terminals, and interstate checkpoints to monitor suspicious movements of children and vulnerable persons.
