Digital Goa, Oct 12- SDPO Panaji Sudesh Naik, who is handling Rama Kankonkar assault case investigation, said that no politician’s name figured in the initial statement recorded by the police at GMC. We have the video recording. The investigation is being conducted on merits, and there is no pressure of any sort, Naik asserted. The officials were speaking to the media during a special press briefing regarding the Rama Kankonkar assault case. Rama was brutally assaulted in broad daylight on Sept 18 by a group of assailants at Caranzalem.
First statement given by Kankonkar at GMC on October 2 holds the “most evidential value,” claimed North Goa SP Rahul Gupta adding that subsequent statements are “sort of improvements” and comparatively weaker. “We are investigating on those basis,” Gupta stated.
Goa DGP Alok Kumar said the allegations made by Rama Kankonkar after his discharge from the Goa Medical College (GMC) regarding the involvement of politicians were “grave in nature,” and hence the police deemed it necessary to brief about the investigation which has happened in the case thus far. He maintained that a swift and prompt investigation was underway.
SP Gupta informed that the probe so far indicates that Minguel Araujo, Francis Nadar, and Zenito Cardozo conspired on September 14 to attack Kankonkar and “teach him a lesson” for allegedly defaming them. He said there was a history of scuffles and online confrontations. When asked if the attack on Rama was out of personal enmity , Gupta said nothing can be said conclusively for now and that investigation is on and things will be more clear when the final chargesheet is filed. As of now no extortion angle has come in, but investigations are on, he added.
When asked about complaint filed by Rama’s wife Rati Kankonkar regarding leaking of Rama’s statement to the media, Gupta said record was fully confidential from our end. We had given a copy to witness, he added.
A Personal Security Officer (PSO) has been deployed round the clock by Agassaim Police Station for his safety, he informed. Police have attached cables used in the crime, three two-wheelers, and six mobile phones.
As of now 8 persons have been arrested in the case and are under judicial custody.
The accused have been booked under Sections 126(2), 109, and 351(3) read with 61 (criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, and intimidation), Section 238 (disappearance of evidence), and Section 111 (organized crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
