Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Panaji Police have arrested five out of six accused involved in the brutal assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar at Caranzalem, while one accused remains absconding.
The case was registered on the complaint of Soiru Velip (45), a resident of Barcem, Quepem, who stated that six persons conspired and wrongfully confined Kankonkar before assaulting him with deadly weapons and threatening to kill him.
The complainant himself was also threatened at knifepoint. Police have booked the accused under Sections 126(2), 109, and 351(3) read with Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for attempt to murder, conspiracy, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation.
To track down the accused, eight teams comprising 31 personnel were formed under the supervision of SDPO Panaji.
Within three hours of the crime being reported, all six suspects were identified through CCTV footage and criminal records.
Acting on intelligence, a team led by PSI Nitin Naik apprehended two suspects, Anthony Nadar (31) and Francis Nadar (28), both residents of St. Cruz, at Dodamarg bus stand.
Based on their interrogation, police traced three more accused — Suresh Naik (31) of Porvorim, Minguel Araujo (24) of St. Cruz, and Manish Hadfadkar (24) of Chorao — at Margao railway station later that night, where they were allegedly preparing to flee to Karnataka.
All five arrested have a history of criminal activity. One more accused is still absconding, and further investigation is underway.
The operation was led by PI Vijay Chodankar of Panaji Police Station, with oversight from SP North Rahul Gupta.
