Police swing into action, arrest Five, hunt for sixth; Kankonkar undergoing treatment at GMC as leaders demand justice
Activist Rama Kankonkar undergoing treatment at GMC after sustaining injuries in the Caranzalem assault.
PANAJI
In yet another daylight daring assault, this time activist Rama Kankonkar was attacked by six assailants armed with deadly weapons near the children’s park in Caranzalem on Thursday.
Five of the six assailants, all history-sheeters, were identified and arrested soon thereafter. Eight teams comprising 31 personnel were mobilised to track them down as the accused attempted to flee to Karnataka, police said while adding the accused are charged for attempted murder, conspiracy, assault and others.
Kankonkar sustained serious injuries in the attack, incident that drew sharp reactions from both the government and the opposition.
The activist, after the attack, alleged that the assailants punched and thrashed him, smeared cow dung on his face, and threw him on the road. He further claimed that the group, armed with a knife and a gun, threatened him, saying, “Do you wish to be the protector of Goa? Let us show you.”
Police said the six attackers fled on two-wheelers and their identities are yet to be established.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condemned the incident, stating they have zero tolerance for such crimes. “Government will not tolerate such incidents. Instructions are given to find out who is behind this and arrest them soon,” he told the media, soon after the video of the attack went viral.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao lashed out at the government, calling the incident proof of collapse of law and order in the State. “Goa is witnessing a disturbing trend of 'goondagiri’ by assailants protected by police. Individuals who speak out against wrongdoing are targeted. The earlier attack on Rama Kankonkar outside the court, followed by police inaction, clearly indicates that law enforcement is shielding the perpetrators,” Alemao said.
Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai also condemned the incident, stating that this attack is on every Goan. “Activist Rama Kankonkar, a fearless voice who has been relentlessly exposing the failures of the government, was brutally attacked today. This is not just an attack on him; it is an attack on every Goan who dares to question those in power. We will not be quiet. We demand justice,” he posted on his social media.
North SP Rahul Gupta said the case is being investigated and is under the direct supervision of the SDPO, Panaji.
The assault comes at a time when the State has already witnessed a string of assaults, majorly in South Goa in the recent past. Director General of Police Alok Kumar had, in an interview on Prudent, stated there are no organised gangs in Goa. “There are no such incidents of kidnapping, extortion, threatening or organised syndicate activity in Goa. We cannot call it a gang war. If a group of individuals commit an isolated crime like beating someone up, that cannot be defined as a gang in the true sense," he was quoted as saying.
Kankonkar has been undergoing treatment at GMC, with sources stating he has been given protection.
Tech surveillance, crime records helped trace accused: SP North
PANAJI: Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta informed that technical surveillance and crime records helped track the accused within three hours.
A total of eight teams comprising 31 personnel were constituted under the supervision of SDPO Panaji.
"Using CCTV footage and police crime records, all six were identified within three hours of the crime being reported. A manhunt was then launched. Acting on inputs that some of the accused were spotted near Dodamarg bus stand, a police team conducted searches in the area and arrested Anthony Nadar (31) and Francis Nadar (28), both residents of St Cruz. During interrogation, the duo disclosed that the others were attempting to flee to Karnataka by train," the SP said in a statement issued late Thursday night.
Police teams were immediately deployed at railway stations across the State. Around 9 pm, another team traced three other accused – Suresh Naik (31) of Porvorim, Minguel Araujo (24) of St Cruz, and Manish Hadfadkar (24) of Chorao at Margao railway station.
All five arrested have past criminal records. The sixth accused is yet to be arrested, police said, adding that further investigation is in progress.
