Brutal Assault on Adivasi Leader in Goa: NAPM Condemns Attack, Demands Command Responsibility

New Delhi - Widespread condemnation has followed a violent attack on Rama Kankonkar, a prominent Adivasi youth leader, with activists and civil society groups demanding a probe to establish the "command responsibility" of those who allegedly orchestrated the assault.

The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), a prominent coalition of progressive groups, has strongly condemned the September 18 attack on Kankonkar, which it describes as "not only physically brutal but symbolically degrading."

According to the NAPM, Kankonkar was attacked by six individuals near the Children’s Park in Caranzalem, an area under surveillance as part of the 'Smart City' project. The assailants, armed with weapons, physically assaulted him, smeared his face with cow dung, and recorded the incident on video.

"The attack sends a chilling message: that struggles for justice and dissent will be met with public humiliation and brute violence," the NAPM stated in a release.

This incident is not seen in isolation. The NAPM points to a pattern of intimidation, noting that at least three of the alleged attackers were previously involved in a separate assault in North Goa targeting another individual concerned with land rights.

Kankonkar is a known figure in people's movements in Goa, having been vocal in campaigns against the CAA-NPR-NRC, the double-tracking of railways, and major corporate projects that threaten displacement and environmental damage. As a member of Goa's Scheduled Tribe communities, he has also been at the forefront of the struggle for legislative reservation and Adivasi rights.

The attack has triggered a wave of protests across the state. Over the past ten days, public meetings, candlelight vigils, and demonstrations have been held, uniting civil society and political voices across the spectrum in demanding the arrest of the masterminds.

While eight accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, activists insist that the individuals with "actual political clout," allegedly affiliated with the ruling BJP in the state, who planned the attack, remain free.

The NAPM has also expressed solidarity with another activist, Swapnesh Sherlekar, who has faced intimidation for his work exposing malpractices in urban planning and governance.

Linking the violence to a larger systemic issue, the NAPM has called for a review of what it terms Goa’s "unsustainable and unjust ‘development’ model; fuelled by land mafias and casino interests."

Key Demands Made by NAPM:

1. A thorough and principled investigation to establish the "command responsibility" of the key planners of the attack.

2. Pursuit of the case to its logical conclusion, including under the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

3. Adequate protection for Rama Kankonkar, Swapnesh Sherlekar, and other activists at risk.

4. Full medical care and exemplary compensation for Rama Kankonkar.

The ongoing mobilizations in Goa are now seen as a dual struggle: for justice for the assaulted activist, and in defense of the environmental and land rights causes he champions.