PANAJI
As the controversy over the assault on tribal activist Rama Kankonkar continues to stir political and social outrage, details from his six-page police statement reveal account of how he was attacked in broad daylight on September 18 -- allegedly by a group of men including history-sheeter Miguel Araujo -- but without any mention of a mastermind or politician.
In his statement to the Panaji police, Kankonkar said the attack unfolded shortly after he and his friend Soiru Velip had lunch at a restaurant in Caranzalem. He indicated that the attack came just minutes after an unknown man, accompanied by a woman and child, clicked photographs nearby. Kankonkar however did not raise any suspicion.
“At around 12:15-12:30 pm, a man, a woman, and a child were seated in front of us. The man started clicking pictures on his mobile phone while looking in our direction. He came to me saying he had not clicked our photo but only that of the menu. I ignored the matter and do not know who that person was. After having lunch, Soiru and I paid the bill and left the hotel,” he said, as The Goan accessed some extracts of the statement.
But what followed moments later turned violent as Kankonkar recalled that while proceeding towards his car, a person emerged from nowhere, put his hand around his shoulder and pressed his neck. “He began punching me on my face and eyes. Two or three more persons joined him, hitting me repeatedly with fists, cables, and chains while abusing me in filthy language,” the activist said.
He alleged that one of the attackers hurled caste-related slurs, shouting, “Rakhandar tuch Goencho.”
During the assault, he claimed to have recognised one of the men as Miguel (Araujo). “Another person was wearing spectacles. I can identify those who assaulted me,” he said, adding that one of them taunted him for allegedly targeting an MLA, saying, “...amchea amdarachem nav ghan karta... Tuka ST portfolio zai.’
“They tore my shirt, and when I fell on the ground, they put cow dung in my mouth. I then lost consciousness. They also took my mobile phone and snatched the gold chain from my neck,” Kankonkar further alleged, with the police stating they are ascertaining claims made in the six-page statement.
Kankonkar also linked the September 18 incident to two previous attacks allegedly involving Minguel.
“Miguel had attacked me earlier when I was out on bail in the Panaji Police Station (PS) crime case,” he recounted, adding, “Once, he and another person hit my car from behind at Bambolim and started arguing. On another occasion, men on a scooter rammed my car, Minguel showed me a knife, and another said, ‘Kaam ho gaya’ in Hindi.”
He said he had gone live on social media during the second incident, which prompted bystanders to intervene and force the assailants to flee. A complaint was lodged at Agassaim PS, where police later identified those involved.
Kankonkar told the police that the accused were trying to provoke him so that his bail would be revoked.
