Brutal assault on adivasi youth leader an alarming example of lawlessness in Goa: NAPM

By A Representative

The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has issued a strong condemnation of the "heinous assault" on adivasi youth leader Rama Kankonkar on September 18 and the subsequent intimidation faced by another activist, Swapnesh Sherlekar, citing these incidents as alarming examples of lawlessness in Goa. NAPM is demanding a principled investigation to establish "command responsibility" for the attack and a fundamental review of what it terms Goa’s "unsustainable and unjust 'development' model" driven by land mafias and casino interests.

The assault on Rama Kankonkar, which occurred near the Children’s Park in Caranzalem, Goa, was described as physically brutal and symbolically degrading. Six assailants, armed with weapons, attacked Mr. Kankonkar, smeared his face with cow dung, and video-graphed the entire incident. NAPM characterized the act as a "chilling message" that dissent and struggles for justice would be met with public humiliation and violence, marking a dangerous escalation in targeting activists. At least three of the attackers are reportedly linked to a previous assault in North Goa targeting an individual who raised concerns over land rights, suggesting a deliberate strategy of intimidation against those challenging powerful vested interests.

NAPM highlighted Rama Kankonkar's dedication to people's movements, noting his vocal participation in campaigns against the CAA-NPR-NRC, the double-tracking of railways, and the extensive appropriation of land for corporate projects that threaten the environment and displace communities. As a member of Goa's Scheduled Tribe communities, he has also been prominent in the struggle for legislative reservation and adivasi rights. The Alliance also acknowledged the critical work of Swapnesh Sherlekar and his team in exposing "malplanning and misgovernance" and advocating for public participation in planning processes.

Civil society and political voices in Goa have mobilized over the past ten days, organizing public meetings, vigils, and protests to demand accountability and the arrest of the attack’s alleged masterminds. While eight accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, activists in Goa insist that those with actual political clout, allegedly affiliated with the ruling BJP in the state, who orchestrated the attack, are yet to be apprehended. Activists are continuing the work that Mr. Kankonkar championed, which NAPM views as both a tribute and a continuation of the resistance against destructive mega projects and for land, environmental, and identity rights.

Standing in "unwavering solidarity" with Mr. Kankonkar, Mr. Sherlekar, and the people of Goa, NAPM called upon the Government to pursue the case to finality, including under the SC & ST (PoA) Act, 1989. The organization also demanded that authorities ensure protection for the activists, extend full medical care, and provide "exemplary compensation" to Rama Kankonkar. The Alliance fully endorses the growing consensus that the current Goan development model, fueled by land, mining mafias, and casino interests, is "unsustainable, unjust and unsafe," and called for a radical reimagining of the laws and policies that enable this predatory development.

Comments

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.

Search This Blog