MARGAO
High drama and violent incidents unfolded on stage at Ravindra Bhavan on Saturday evening when the Director of the Tiatr 'Answer' Conception de Tuem was assaulted with kicks and blows right in front of the audience before the show was abandoned midway shortly before half time.
The Margao police later arrested Jennifer Fernandes, wife of noted Tiatr director, Francis de Tuem in connection with the assault, rioting and unlawful assembly after Conception accused her and others of invading the stage and assaulting him when he was singing a song. Jennifer was later released on bail.
The incident is believed to have occurred when Conception de Tuem came on the stage to sing a song midway through the show. Reportedly taking offense to the lyrics after Conception sung two verses, Jennifer went on stage and allegedly assaulted him with a slap. A group of persons immediately followed her and further attacked the director with fist blows and kicks as he landed on the ground during the assault.
The incident did not end there. Perturbed over the violent turn of events, members of the audience rushed on stage in support of the tiatr director. The audience directed their ire at Jennifer questioning her for assaulting Conception even as the other assailants made good their escape in the melee. One group supporting Jennifer was seen throwing a cordon around her to ward off any attack from the angry audience as they came close to manhandle her. Before the police could arrive, Jennifer and her supporters had reached the main entrance of the Ravindra Bhavan and were followed by the angry crowd. When the Margao police team led by PI C L Patil came on the spot, she was brought back into the auditorium as a section of the audience was demanding an apology, which was rejected by her.
Conception, who sustained facial injuries in the incident, told media at the Margao police station that Francis de Tuem’s wife Jennifer allegedly slapped him, while other goondas attacked him blows and kicks on stage when he was signing. “I had completed two verses of my song when I was attacked. I do not know why I was being assaulted. May be I was attacked because of the tiatr, wherein I try to send a message that tiatrists should not attack the personal life of politicians. My tiatr is based on politicians and tiatrists. The tiatr also shows the life of tiatrists and conveys a message that we should be role models for the people”, Conception added.
Replying to a question, he said he would seek police protection to stage the show in the future. “If tiatrists start attacking their fellow artistes, it will certainly affect the very future of tiatr. My artistes have been receiving threats. Such things do not augur well for tiatr. I am ready to submit the lyrics to the police. I have not referred to Francis de Tuem nor his wife in the song”, he asserted.
When contacted, Francis de Tuem said “the tiatr director had tried to malign my image by showing that I am not staying at home, but is putting up in a flat at Madel. My wife had asked him to show the flat at Madel where I am staying. I challenge Conception to show the flat at Madel where he has accused me of staying. I am even ready to give that flat to him if the accusation is proved. I don’t stay anywhere, but at my home with my wife and family”, Francis de Tuem asserted.
PI Patil told the media that Conception has claimed that he had put a disclaimer before the commencement of his tiatr that characters are fictitious and neither the tiatr nor his songs are directed at any person.
Police said Conception is convalescing at Hospicio and is under observation.
Incidentally, Margao police were called upon to intervene at the Ravindra Bhavan a couple of months ago after supporters of Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco had invaded the stage in protest against a song sung by Francis de Tuem directed at the MLA.
