Panaji: In a major breakthrough in the assault case of social activist Rama Kankonkar, Goa Police on Sunday arrested history-sheeter Zenito Cardoso, who allegedly contracted the accused to carry out the attack.
Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta said Cardoso (36) was arrested from a city hotel in Panaji after four of the seven accused already in custody named him.
Kankonkar was brutally assaulted last week at Caranzalem, near Panaji, by a group of seven people. Police have so far arrested all seven individuals involved in the case.
SP Gupta confirmed that Cardoso, with a history of several criminal cases, had an old enmity with Kankonkar and hired the gang to assault him.
The broad daylight assault triggered widespread outrage, with social activists and political leaders condemning the deteriorating law and order in the state.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who returned from his Bihar campaign on Sunday, assured action. “All those involved in the attack would be arrested. No one will be spared,” he told reporters at Dabolim Airport.
