the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa, on Wednesday, paid homage to Mohan Ranade, a leading light of Goa’s freedom struggle who died in Pune on June 25, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant paying rich tributes to him and others who suffered long years of confinement in Portuguese prisons even after liberation of the State in 1961.
Speaking at the condolence meet held in the capital for Ranade, Sawant said he regrets that the State was unable to free several freedom fighters, including Ranade, from prisons in Portugal for some years after Goa got liberated in 1961.
“Ranade should have been freed after 1961 when Goa won independence,” Sawant said, noting that he had to live in Portugal’s prison for eight years after liberation.
The chief minister said all Goans got the fruits of liberation but ironically those who fought for it stayed in prison for several years beyond 1961.
“As the Chief Minister I regret this,” he said.
Ranade was arrested for his involvement in the 1955 attack on the police station at Betim.
Sangli-born Ranade died over a week ago in Pune. He was part of the group of freedom fighters who styled themselves as ‘Azad Gomantak Dal’ and followed the path of armed attacks against the Portuguese rulers. They organised ambushes and targeted police stations.
He was sentenced to solitary confinement for 5 years first and then served a further 14 years in prisons in Portugal.
