Digital Goa, September 21 – Police have arrested 36-year-old Zenito Cardozo, a known history-sheeter from St. Agustin Wado, St. Cruz, in connection with the assault on activist Rama Kankonkar. Cardozo was apprehended from a hotel in Panaji. SP North, Rahul Gupta, confirmed that Cardozo is the prime accused and had active involvement in the crime. Based on detailed interrogation of already arrested 7 accused and all available evidences, it was disclosed that Zenito had instructed the accused to commit the heinous act, he said. “The motive is yet to be fully ascertained, but it appears there was prior enmity,” said SP Gupta, adding that a contract might have been given to assault Rama. In a continued crackdown, 12 persons were arrested under preventive action at Old Goa Police Station today. Two of them—Satish Bharti (19) of Merces and Yeshwant Nippanikar (47) of St. Cruz—are linked to previously arrested accused but not directly involved in the case. Nine known history-sheeters were also taken into custody: Asif Ali Badekar (36, Chimbel), Suraj Shetye (48, Merces), Lourence Dias (41, Mestabhat Merces), Aniket Naik (32, Old Goa), Gauresh Naik (39, Merces), Adam Utkuri (52, Chimbel), Domnic Nazath (39, Merces), Karim Bepari (36, St. Cruz), and Chetan Korgaokar (35, St. Cruz). Additionally, one person of bad character, Shelton Perera (24, Chimbel), was arrested. This brings total arrested in connection with the case to eight, including prime accused Zenito Cardozo. As a preventive measure, a total of 23 persons have been placed under arrest under Sections 126 and 170 BNSS.
