“The state cannot pretend ignorance. Licensing security firms is not a casual affair. There are rules, checks, and verification processes in place under the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act. Yet, if individuals with criminal records are able to run such agencies, it points to either wilful negligence or active collusion within the system. In a state where nightlife and tourism are key drivers of the economy, laxity in regulating bouncers and security guards is not a minor issue. It directly affects law and order and, more importantly, erodes public trust.”
The recent attack on Rama Kankonkar has once again thrown light on a troubling trend that Goa has been quietly grappling with for years. Security agencies, particularly those supplying bouncers to nightclubs and events, have become fertile ground for criminal activity. What should have been a regulated service industry offering protection has instead mutated into a front for gang wars and extortion.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s assurance that gangs will be dismantled has been welcomed in principle, but the public remains unconvinced. The scepticism is understandable. Similar promises have been made before whenever violence flared up. Arrests follow, headlines are made, but the underlying rot remains untouched. The case of Zenito Cardozo, a history-sheeter with links to the security business, illustrates this systemic failure. It is not about one individual but about how people with criminal pasts have been allowed to secure licences and operate under the garb of legitimate agencies.
The state cannot pretend ignorance. Licensing security firms is not a casual affair. There are rules, checks, and verification processes in place under the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act. Yet, if individuals with criminal records are able to run such agencies, it points to either wilful negligence or active collusion within the system. In a state where nightlife and tourism are key drivers of the economy, laxity in regulating bouncers and security guards is not a minor issue. It directly affects law and order and, more importantly, erodes public trust.
The nexus becomes murkier when one looks at the political dimension. It is no secret that many politicians, across parties, have been patrons of these very agencies. They rely on muscle power for rallies, crowd control, and sometimes intimidation.
To blame only the ruling dispensation would be unfair, because this culture of using security firms as extensions of political machinery has thrived for decades. That is why crackdowns often remain selective. Some gang members are arrested, while others are conveniently spared. The result is that the larger network survives and resurfaces in another form.
The argument here is simple: why should agencies owned by individuals with criminal backgrounds be allowed to operate at all? If the government is serious about ending gang culture, the most direct way is to strike at its economic roots. Licences of such agencies must be withdrawn immediately.
A complete audit of all security firms in Goa is overdue. Owners should undergo strict background checks, and any history of violent crime or pending criminal cases must automatically disqualify them. This is not about harassment of genuine operators but about ensuring that the word “security” does not become a euphemism for extortion.
There is also a moral question. When the state turns a blind eye to criminals entering the security business, it legitimises their power. It sends a signal that crime pays if wrapped in the veneer of legality. That signal is what emboldens gangs and fuels turf wars. The people of Goa deserve better. They deserve security agencies that actually secure, not intimidate.
It is worth noting that the rise of gang wars in Goa has coincided with the growth of the nightlife and casino economy. This industry depends heavily on bouncers and guards. Where money flows unchecked, muscle power follows. Unless the state regulates this sector with seriousness, gang culture will continue to feed off it. The murder attempts, street fights, and club clashes we have seen are not isolated incidents but symptoms of this deeper malaise.
The Chief Minister’s promise will be judged not by the number of arrests made in the coming weeks but by whether the system of licensing is overhauled. Cosmetic crackdowns will not work. Political patronage must end, and the message has to be clear that no one with a criminal background will be allowed to run a security agency in Goa.
Goa’s reputation is at stake. What was once a peaceful tourist paradise is now increasingly associated with gang wars, drug busts, and nightclub violence. This is not just a law and order concern but a threat to the very identity of the state. The government has an opportunity to restore confidence. It must act decisively, even if it means hurting the interests of those within its own fold.
For once, let Goa’s leaders show that the law is above politics. The state cannot afford security agencies doubling as licensed gangs any longer.
