Accused in Kankonkar assault case remanded in 14-day judicial custody

Panaji: Eight accused involved in the alleged assault of activist Rama Kankonkar were remanded in 14 days of judicial custody on Friday. Goa police have sought an additional five days of police custody to uncover intermediaries who conducted recce, establish the exact place of conspiracy, and determine if any video of the incident was recorded.

SP North Rahul Gupta said that Panaji police will reapply to seek police custody of the accused.

Police said that they wanted the custody of the accused to conduct house searches, to identify the mode of transport used for escape, uncover intermediaries who conducted the recce, establish the exact place of conspiracy, and determine if any video of the incident was recorded.

“Investigators also aimed to trace money transactions and recover additional mobile phones,” Panaji police said. They also said that prolonged custodial interrogation of the accused is required as they are hardened criminals and known historysheeters.

A senior police officer said that they will seek police custody again as the new law permits fresh remand at later stages too if new facts emerge during the course of the investigation. Even after a week since the alleged assault on Kankonkar, Goa police failed to find out the motive and mastermind behind the attack.

The arrested accused are Zenito Cardozo, 36, Anthony Nadar, 31, Francis Nadar, 28, Minguel Araujo, 24, and Franco D’Costa, 28 — all residents of Santa Cruz. Police have also arrested Manish Hadfadkar, 24 of Chorao, Suresh Naik, 31, and Sairaj Govekar, 28, a resident of Pilerne.

Kankonkar was allegedly assaulted with a cycle chain, had his shirt torn, and cow dung rubbed on his face by six people at Caranzalem last Thursday afternoon. Before leaving, they also photographed him. After the incident, the accused left the spot on two-wheelers. The entire incident took place within two minutes, as per the CCTV footage.

The opposition on Thursday raised the attack on activist Rama Kankonkar at the one-day Goa legislative assembly session called to elect the new Speaker. The opposition demanded a half-hour discussion on the attack. They demanded the govt make a statement and condemn the attack.

Leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao said that the ST community has respect in Goa, but considering today’s situation and the attack on Kankonkar, there is a need for the govt to look into the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “You speak on the Kankonkar episode and make a statement and condemn the assault. It is the opposition’s demand,” Alemao said.