WOUNDED BODY, INDOMITABLE MIND

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Cover Story October 4, 2025 , by Goan Observer Team

By Praveena Sharma

A beaten-and-battered Rama Kankonkar lies in the hospital, battling medical issues even as matters relating to police investigation and his security crowd his mind. The activist says he does not have faith in the State police; wants a retired-judge panel to probe the attack on him.

AFTER futile attempts at trying to contact activist Rama Kankonkar – a victim of brutal beating by local goons in broad daylight on September 18 – on his mobile phone for over 10 days, it was decided we should land up at the GMC hospital on his birthday (September 29).
And so, we – founder of Goan Observer Rajan Narayan and I – reached the hospital’s private Ward No. 121, consisting of 23 rooms, on the first floor, after breezing past the building security guard. There was another guard at the entrance of the ward. He let us in after cursory inquiries and exchanges with the septuagenarian Narayan.
The police sub-inspector, seated at the entrance of Kankonkar’s room, stretched himself and yawned as we sauntered pass him to the patient’s room.
Inside, there was a small crowd of the activist’s family and friends. It had gathered to celebrate his birthday and was now dispersing.
Rati Kankonkar, accountant wife of Kankonkar, was seeing them off. She had an air of formidable hauteur around her which came from the purpose within her.
More than a week after her fiery husband was mercilessly bludgeoned by a group of hoodlums, reportedly armed with chains, knives and guns, in Caranzalem for raising his voice on Goan issues, she had fully regained strength to stand by his side in the fight for justice.
FEARLESS RAKHANDAR
LYING propped up on the bed, in a short-sleeved sky-blue hospital clothes, Kankonkar’s muteness, vulnerability and overcautiousness belied his reputation – that of a fearless Rakhandar (protector) of Goa.
The only remnants of the fierce activist that still seemed dwelling in him were the steely resolve in his gaze – torched by a determination to seek redemption – and his unfaltering posture.
If Kankonkar’s assailants had imagined of shattering his spirit by pummelling him till he dropped unconscious to the ground, they had severely miscalculated.
The air in the VIP room of ward 121 was thick with a renewed fervour to fight for justice through lawful means.
Rati informed us of Kankonkar’s health complications and how his MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) report was showing minor clots in his brain.
Even as she updated us on his medical condition, a shudder ran through Kankonkar. Rati impulsively gripped his right arm and shoulder to calm his nerve.
More than a week after he was beaten up, Kankonkar’s health remained unstable with blurred vision, frequent headaches and difficulty in walking. He struggled even to walk up to the washroom.
THE once-ferocious social media warrior was now tied down to the bed. The helplessness of it all seemed to be gnawing him. The one thing that niggled him the most was his urinating problem.
“I’m having problem urinating. I have to pass urine every 15-20 seconds. Some urine remains inside so I have to press and remove the urine,” he shared.
In few minutes, he had to make another round to the washroom. Latching his arms around Rati’s shoulder, he picked his way to it.
On his return, he did not climb back to the bed but sat in a chair and haltingly recounted the assault incident to me. He recalled his arrest two months back for his alleged statement on CM Pramod Sawant.
He said his statement was misquoted in the press. Putting forth his side of the story, he said when one of the Panch members of Cortalim threatened him by saying “hum aapko idar hi zameen me gaad denge” (We will bury you alive right here).
He had countered by telling him; “before burying us Goan, you have to bury the person (referring to Sawant) who is heading us. So, it got twisted.”
His voice refused to rise above a whisper. He remembered seeing me at the book launch of The River Mhadei – The Science and Politics of Diversion at the Goa University.
It was at this event that he had listened to the talk by the retired chief Justice Ferdino Rebello on Mhadei river.
“I want the investigation of my case to be done by a panel, which is preferably headed by retired chief justice Ferdino Rebello. I have no faith in the police. They are all compromised,” he whispered with much effort.
INSTIL FEAR
KANKONKAR said police believes he was being targeted not to be killed but only to instil “fear” in him.
It baffled him the police had not yet been able to recover the mobiles of people who recorded the assault on him and released the call records of those who have been arrested till now.
“How will they (police) give me justice when they have not been able to recover the mobiles of people who recorded my assault and released their call records,” he said with anguish in his voice.
Kankonkar has been part of many movements including the Goa Against CAA-NPR-NRC. He has vociferously opposed various illegal and ecologically destructive projects including the proposed information technology (IT) park and a mall in Chimbel and a tourism project in the Khazan lands of Mandur.
The attack on Kankonkar, who took on practically every major politician of Goa in his social media videos and speeches, has whipped up an outrage amongst locals against State’s political class.
There has been a surge in outpourings of angst on the streets against attempts by the government to silence people’s dissent and reign in outspoken critics.
This has lent courage to the Kankonkars, who are currently dealing with not just medical issues but also with matters to do with police probe into the assault and their security.
ONE of them is recording Kankonkar’s statement with the police. The medical superintendent of GMC Rajesh Patil has counselled him against giving any statement till the GMC neurologist declares him “medically fit” for it.
Rati was riled by false claims of Kankonkar being “fit enough” for recording statement and him not co-operating with the police. She defiantly dismissed the allegations with a menacing calm.
I checked the time on my mobile; we had been in the room for over an hour now. It was time to leave. We walked out; the cop was still lounging beside the door.
Inside the room was a beaten-and-battered Kankonkar with his valiant companion next to him. For now, they seemed secure behind hospital room door, but with the knowledge that the road to justice would be long, arduous and fraught with dangers.