Protesters gather in solidarity with Kankonkar, bring city traffic to halt

Panaji: Hundreds of protesters, including activists, MLAs, and locals, brought the capital to a halt on Friday as they rallied in solidarity with Rama Kankonkar, demanding swift justice and invoking fears of a collapse of law and order in Goa.

The protest, which began at Azad Maidan, soon spilled onto Panaji’s streets, first outside the police headquarters, then the Church Square, to BJP state office, a blockade of D B Road before culminating at the chief minister’s official residence at Altinho.The protesters waved placards and shouted slogans, accusing govt of shielding those behind the attack on Kankonkar. At Altinho, a delegation of ten activists met CM Pramod Sawant at his residence, even as police personnel ringed the area to prevent escalation.

Sawant met the opposition leaders and assured them that police would conduct a thorough inquiry into the motives behind the assault.Sawant’s assurances did little to convince the agitated crowd, and the protesters said that if govt failed to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against all the accused, Goa would face a bandh on Monday.Tourists, delivery agents, parents, and students caught in the gridlock expressed frustration as police scrambled to clear the streets.

Traffic jams were seen on Panaji’s internal roads. A melee ensued while police tried to clear away the protesters, in which some of the activists and MLAs claimed that police personnel manhandled them. An activist acknowledged the inconvenience due to the blockade but said the action was necessary.South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes (retd) alleged that a minister was directly involved in the assault on Kankonkar and accused govt of stalling the investigation.

“Goa is becoming the crime capital, and the criminal head is sitting in the assembly,” he said, claiming that police were working under political pressure.GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai said the “mastermind” behind the attack must be exposed. He called for a task force to probe the political–goonda nexus and said the CM must meet Kankonkar. “Our demand is also for NSA to be invoked. If that does not happen, our agitation will continue,” Sardesai said.Leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao said, “We don’t have any trust in the police. When Kankonkar was being beaten, who was the video sent to? Goa should not be allowed to become Bihar. Bail for repeat offenders must be cancelled.”RG MLA Viresh Borkar alleged that police manhandled the MLAs during the march. “They tried to throw us down. Nobody expects help from police anymore. There is an attempt to create fear,” he said.AAP MLA Venzy Viegas recalled earlier cases of violence where, despite promises, justice was not delivered. AAP state president Amit Palekar alleged that police lathi-charged protesters without orders, while Viegas described govt assurances as “T20 cricket with Goa”.