PANJIM: Never before has the State witnessed such a massive hunt as the one Goa Police has launched to take into custody Zenito Cardozo. From nearly every pocket of Goa to across the border, the search for the accused has hitherto not yielded encouraging results.

Days after a violent attack at St Cruz on June 20, the Police Department made it official that Cardozo was the prime conspirator and a manhunt for his arrest was launched barely a week before he approached the local court for anticipatory bail.

Several parts of North and South Goa were raided, his close associates also quizzed. Herald spoke to North SP Utkrisht Prasoon who confirmed that the search for the accused continues. “We have been searching for him at all the major locations and dispatched teams to multiple locations. We are working and are in the process of working on his possible whereabouts,” he said.

Such a continuous effort to nab a lawbreaker has never been seen. Herald also spoke to another senior officer, who emphasised that the search has ‘not been abandoned’.

“Not a single day is spent unutilised. Every clue leading to his possible hideout is taken seriously. We were recently tipped-off about his new hideout somewhere in Maharashtra. We lost no time in sending our team there but Zenito was not found,” the officer said. “The team returned after camping there for around three days,” he said urging people to inform the police about any clue leading to Zenito.

The department has already activated its intelligence within and outside the State, said Prasoon, while replying to another query.

Amidst one of the mega hunts launched to track Cardozo, a senior officer wishing anonymity, said the department will not shy away from taking action against anyone who is hand in glove with the criminal.

“Our motto is zero tolerance against crime. Any policeman found shielding the criminal, will face action. In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic related duty, our team is dedicatedly working to crackdown on him,” this officer told Herald.