the goan I network
PANAJI
The threat to the life of celebrated Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo from right-wing organizations found echo in the Goa legislative assembly with Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco raising alarm over questionable activities of organisations like the Sanatan Saunstha.
Making a special mention of the case during Zero Hour on Friday, Lourenco said the State government should be alert about such dubious activities to ensure ‘terrorists’ are not bred here on Goan soil as it is headquartered
here in Ponda.
He recalled the case of the Narkasur day blasts, albeit failed, at Margao in 2009 close to the venue where the then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was chief guest
at a function.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar meanwhile said the government had acted quickly and given Mauzo security cover no sooner the Home Ministry informed the State about his name figuring in the list of possible targets.
The threat to Mauzo was revealed by confessions of those arrested in the murder of Bangalore-based journalist Gauri Lankesh. Some of the accused are also linked to the murders of rationalists Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Narendra Dabolkar.
Mauzo, who lives in Salcete’s Majorda village has in recent years has been outspoken on various issues and is part of the ‘progressive’ clique of writers and thinkers.
He won the Sahitya Akademi award for his novel “Karmelin” in 1983 and is arguably the leading litterateur from Goa. He also served a term on the Sahitya Akademi’s executive board and also on its
finance committee.
Parrikar said, the State got a message from the Home Ministry that Mauzo’s was among names of writers that emerged during Gauri Lankesh murder
investigations.
“I know him personally. I immediately told the police to provide him security. The government acted quickly,” Parrikar said.
“When you are outspoken on certain thoughts you must be prepared for such things,” he had said.
Mauzo, meanwhile, had told The GOAN on Thursday night that he was not bothered by such threats.
