Security heightened at Goa EDM festivals over terror threat

Panaji: Security at the electronic dance music (EDM) festivals Sunburn and the Supersonic held annually in Goa, will be heightened in view of a terror threat posed by extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS), Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said.

Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of a media event at the state Secretariat on Wednesday, Parulekar also said 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 on site," Parulekar said.

Chief Secretary of Goa, R.K. Srivastava heads the committee which grants single window clearance to major tourism related events organised in the state.

Parulekar also said that some of the specific requests which have been made by the committee includes 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 namely Sunburn and Supersonic EDM festival which are held in the last week of December, which coincides with peak tourism season.