Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major development in the investigation into the brutal attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar, North Goa Police on Sunday evening arrested notorious gangster Zenito Cardozo, identified as the prime accused in the case.
According to SP North Goa Rahul Gupta, IPS, Zenito, a resident of St. Agostinho Waddo, Santa Cruz, was taken into custody from a hotel in Panaji.
A known history-sheeter, Zenito has previously been implicated in cases ranging from extortion to murder and has even been detained under the National Security Act (NSA).
Police sources said Zenito’s involvement surfaced during the interrogation of seven suspects already in custody. Gupta indicated that the attack on Kankonkar was allegedly carried out at Zenito’s instigation, though the exact motive remains under investigation.
“While the full motive is still being determined, prior enmity seems to be a factor. It could possibly have been a contract assault,” Gupta said.
With Zenito’s arrest, the number of people now held in connection with the attack rises to eight.
The attack on Kankonkar occurred last Thursday in broad daylight, where a gang of six men assaulted her with metal cables. CCTV footage of the incident went viral, sparking public outrage and triggering street protests led by opposition leaders, political parties, and social activists, paralyzing central Panaji for several hours.
In a continued crackdown, Old Goa Police also arrested 12 more individuals with criminal records on Sunday. Two of them — Satish Bharti (19) of Merces and Yeshwant Nippanikar (47) of Santa Cruz — were reportedly linked to the previously arrested accused, though not directly involved in the Kankonkar case.
Police stated that, including preventive detentions, a total of 23 people from areas such as Santa Cruz, Merces, Chimbel, and Old Goa have now been taken into custody under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS Act.
Investigations into the attack remain ongoing.
