Daijiworld Media Network - Panjim

Panjim, Sep 19: Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday condemned a brutal assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar in Goa, alleging a total collapse of law and order under the BJP-led state government.

“Shocked to hear about the brutal assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar, in broad daylight. Gang wars, drugs, harassment of women and now this assault—show a complete failure of the law-and-order machinery under the BJP in Goa. The people of Goa deserve better,” Kejriwal posted on X.

Kankonkar was attacked by six people on Thursday in Panjim’s Caranzalem area. Police have arrested five accused on charges of attempt to murder and are pursuing the sixth suspect, who remains absconding.

Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta said two of the accused, Anthony Nadar and Francis Nadar, were apprehended in Dodamarg, Maharashtra, while Suresh Naik, Minguel Araujo, and Manish Hadfadkar were caught at Margao Railway Station while trying to flee the state. Gupta assured that preventive measures will be taken to avoid such incidents in the future and confirmed that five to six police teams are searching for the remaining suspect.

Kankonkar, currently undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College and Hospital, told police that the attackers punched and kicked him, smeared cow dung on his face, and flung him onto the road.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant strongly condemned the incident and vowed that the accused would receive the “strictest punishment.”