NT Reporter
Panaji
Panaji police on Friday arrested two more assailants in connection with the brutal attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar. With these fresh arrests, the total number of persons held in connection with the case is seven.
Kankonkar was attacked at Caranzalem in broad daylight on Thursday by a group of assailants. Six of the accused are history-sheeters, police said.
The men arrested on Friday are Franco D’Costa (28), a resident of St Cruz, and Sairaj Govekar (28), a resident of Pilerne.
“D’Costa was riding the bike of accused Anthony Nadar and was present on the spot (during the crime). He was arrested from St Cruz on Friday evening,” said North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta.
Gupta said Govekar was also among the assailants involved in the attack and was present with his two-wheeler. “He was arrested from near Mapusa market area. He is a history-sheeter,” said Gupta adding that the earlier arrested five accused are also history-sheeters.
“All seven accused present at the crime spot have been arrested. Efforts are on to recover the two-wheelers, mobile phones and weapon used. Further investigation is in progress,” said Gupta.
Police had earlier arrested five men –
Suresh Naik alias Booky (31), a resident of Succorro, Manish Hadfadkar (29), a resident of Chorao, Anthony Nadar (31) and his brother Francis Nadar from St Cruz and Minguel Araujo (23), also from St Cruz. They have been arrested on the charge of attempt to murder and remanded to five-day police custody.
Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar said, “Police worked swiftly, and five accused were arrested within hours. The motive behind the attack is being probed,” he said.
