PANJIM, Aug. 2 -- In a decisive move setting the stage for a high-profile legal showdown, the North Goa Special Court at Merces has cleared the way for the trial of eight individuals accused in the brutal September 2025 assault on activist Rama Kankonkar at Caranzalem, ruling that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to frame charges against them.

The court also dismissed the discharge application filed by accused Zenito Cardozo, who is alleged to have masterminded the attack.

The charges were framed against Suresh Naik alias Booky (31) and Sairaj Govekar (27), both from Porvorim, Manish Hadfadkar (29) of Chorao, Anthony Nadar (31) and his brother Francis Nadar (29), Minguel Araujo (23), Franco D'Costa (28) and Zenito Cardozo (36), ...