Panaji: Mandrem police on Thursday detained two persons in connection with the brutal assault on former Mandrem sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar on Dec 4. Police have detained the two due to their link to the ownership of the vehicle used in the assault case and have also seized the vehicle.
Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said that the culprits will be known very soon. On Tuesday, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had sought to transfer the case to the crime branch for “sterner and faster inquiry”. The assault has led to a political slugfest with former Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte meeting the chief minister, accompanied by Lobo and alleging Arolkar’s involvement in the case. Konadkar was brutally attacked by five masked people on Wednesday at Askawada, Mandrem.
Mandrem police said the incident occurred at 10.15am near Ram Mandir at Askawada when Konadkar was on his way to his residence on a scooter. Police said that five assailants, who concealed their faces with monkey caps, blocked the former sarpanch’s path with their car. They verbally abused, and physically assaulted him with sticks and rods causing bodily injuries, while also damaging his scooter.