Police: Rama did not name any politician in initial statement

Panaji : Panaji sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Sudesh Naik, who is investigating the assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar, told media persons on Sunday that no politician’s name figured in Kankonkar’s initial statement recorded at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) and that the investigators possess a video recording of that statement.

Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar described the post-discharge allegations of Kankonkar claiming political involvement in the case as “grave in nature”. He said the seriousness of those claims prompted the police force to brief the media about the investigative steps taken so far. He said a swift and prompt inquiry is under way to establish the facts and place evidence before court as it emerges.

After his discharge from GMC on Saturday, Kankonkar had alleged before the media that two top politicians could be behind the attack on him.

“The investigation is being conducted on merits. We will collect and place all evidence before the court. There is no pressure of any sort in the investigation. Politicians’ names were not mentioned by Rama during the initial statement recorded by PSI which was video-recorded,” DySP Naik said.

At the special briefing, North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Gupta said, “The first statement recorded at GMC holds the most evidential value and he didn’t mention names of politicians.”

He said the subsequent statements represent “sort of improvements” and are comparatively weaker from an evidentiary standpoint. “We are investigating on that basis and it will be followed up only if corroborated against other evidence,” Gupta said adding that the probe is being conducted strictly on merit and without any external pressure.

He said the probe till date indicates that three men – Minguel Araujo, Francis Nadar and Zenito Cardozo – conspired on September 14 to assault Kankonkar and “teach him a lesson,”. Gupta said the motive was retaliation for purported defamation and a history of scuffles and online confrontations between the parties. Gupta, however, said whether the attack grew out of personal enmity cannot be stated conclusively until the final chargesheet is filed.

The attack on Kankonkar had taken place at Caranzalem on September 18 in broad daylight. Kankonkar, who was undergoing treatment at the GMC, was discharged on October 11.

Till date, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case and are lodged in judicial custody. According to police, they have seized multiple items they believe were used in the crime, including cables, three two-wheelers and six mobile phones.

The accused have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, sections related to criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and intimidation (Sections 126(2), 109 and 351(3) read with 61), along with provisions related to disappearance of evidence (Section 238) and organised crime (Section 111). Police have also invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over complaints of caste-based abuse during the assault.

Addressing concerns about confidentiality after a complaint from Rama’s wife, Rati Kankonkar, about an alleged leak of her husband’s statement, SP Gupta said the statements taken by the police are confidential and that no statement was publicly released by the cops. He said copies of statements have been shared with the witness as per the procedure.

For the victim’s safety, Agassaim police have deployed a personal security officer round the clock, police said.