Islamic State scare hovers around Goa music fest; security intensified

Panaji: Security at the Sunburn and the Supersonic electronic dance music festivals held annually will be beefed up in view of the Islamic State threat, Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said on Wednesday.

Parulekar told IANS on the sidelines of a media event at the state secretariat that permissions for the two events were held in abeyance until the organisers complied with requests for providing additional security cover.

"We want the best security in view of the IS threat. The single window permission committee headed by the chief secretary which grants permission for such events has decided to ask the organisers of the events to increase security," Parulekar said.

Goa`s Chief Secretary RK Srivastava heads the committee which grants single window clearance to major tourism-related events.

Parulekar also said that some of the specific requests which have been made by the committee include increasing the number of metal detectors at the EDM festival venues and sniffer dogs to keep track of possible explosive substances.

"The police will be there, but the organisers will also have to increase the security in view of the threat. The permissions will be granted once they comply with these conditions," Parulekar said.

Goa, one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations, hosts two of the biggest party events in the country - Sunburn and Supersonic EDM festivals - which are held in the last week of December.