By Suraj Nandrekar
On Thursday afternoon, in the usually quiet lanes near the Children’s Park in Caranzalem, the routine rhythm of the day was shattered. Activist Rama Kankonkar, known for his outspoken views and dogged pursuit of civic causes, had just stepped out of a restaurant when six men cornered him.
The attack was sudden and brutal. One man grabbed him from behind as others wielded knives, iron rods and even a steel wire. They kicked and punched him before hurling him onto the road. Cow dung was smeared on his face as they taunted him with the words, “Do you wish to be the protector of Goa? Let us show you.” Eyewitnesses say one assailant had a gun, though it was never fired. The men sped away on two-wheelers, leaving the activist bleeding and shaken on the asphalt.
Kankonkar was rushed to Goa Medical College in Bambolim with serious injuries. Doctors later said his condition was stable, though the trauma was evident. Shockingly, the ambulance took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. Within hours, police confirmed the arrest of five men, all with criminal records from St Cruz, Chorao and Porvorim. A sixth remains on the run.
The attack set off a wave of protests across Panjim. Traffic ground to a halt as citizens blocked roads, demanding justice and protection for Kankonkar and his family. The Chief Minister promised police security, but anger was already spilling over.
For many, the assault is more than a crime against one individual. It is a chilling reminder of how unsafe Goa has become for those who question power. Opposition leaders who visited Kankonkar at the hospital and joined the protests spoke in one voice of fear and intimidation.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai called the attack “an assault on every Goan who dares to stand up.” He demanded that the state invoke the National Security Act against the culprits. “This is not just about Rama. This is about the government abandoning its duty to protect its citizens,” Sardesai said.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao described the incident as part of a “disturbing trend of goondagiri.” Standing by Kankonkar’s bedside at GMC, he accused the Home Department of complete failure. “If activists can be attacked in daylight, it means criminals have protection. The police are either helpless or compromised,” Alemao said.
AAP’s Capt Venzy Viegas sharpened the charge further. “Law and order hasn’t collapsed, there is simply no law and order in Goa. The Chief Minister is directly responsible,” he said, demanding swift arrests and warning of larger agitations if justice is delayed.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira expressed outrage at the audacity of the attackers. “An assault on him is an assault on all of us. The government must show it will not tolerate this, or fear will silence every voice of dissent,” he said, urging the creation of a special task force to probe the case.
South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes spoke of a larger design to muzzle critics. He accused the government of targeting activists who expose corruption. “Rama’s only fault is that he dared to speak the truth. The administration is trying to intimidate people into silence. We cannot allow Goa to turn into Mirzapur,” Fernandes said, using a reference to a lawless fictional town.
As the dust settles, questions grow louder. Who ordered this attack? Was it simply the work of goons, or did higher hands orchestrate it? Opposition leaders have hinted at political links but have stopped short of naming a minister. Until clarity comes, the air is heavy with suspicion, and the message to ordinary citizens is stark: speak up, and you risk your safety.
The assault on Rama Kankonkar has left Goa shaken. What was once seen as a peaceful state is today living in the shadow of fear.
Sequence of Events
* Thursday afternoon: Rama Kankonkar exits restaurant near Children’s Park, Caranzalem.
* Ambushed by six assailants with knives, rods, wire; kicked and beaten.
* Cow dung smeared on his face, assailants threaten him before fleeing on two-wheelers.
* Ambulance delayed, Kankonkar shifted to GMC Bambolim with serious injuries.
* Five suspects with criminal backgrounds arrested; one still absconding.
* Protests erupt in Panjim, traffic blocked, demand for justice intensifies.
* Opposition leaders visit hospital, accuse government of protecting criminals, warn of collapse of law and order.
