TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Even as the storm kicked up over Ravindra Bhavan’s controversial draft undertaking has begun to subside with Chairman Damu Naik assuring the tiatr fraternity that no attempts will be made to gag the tiatr, another major row hit the Konkani tiatr on Thursday.
Director of upcoming tiatr, “Akantvadi Goeant Naka” Tousif Sheikh popularly known as Tousif de Navelim on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Margao police saying he has received threatening phone calls on his mobile, threatening him if he dare release the tiatr on August 9 at the Gomant Vidya Niketan.
The Margao police has registered a non-cognizable offense against five unknown persons based on the telephone calls received by the tiatr director.
Tousif told Herald that he has received as many as five telephonic calls since 8.42 in the morning, besides a message stating “the best way is to counter attack in the same style with strong way”.
“One of the callers claimed he belongs to a Ponda based organisation and will not tolerate anything that is directed against his community or Pramod Muthalik. I tried to explain to him that the tiatr is centred on the theme national integration and how Goans have lived in perfect peace and harmony. But, he was not ready to listen”, Tousif said.
He said that one of the caller claimed that he was Pramod Muthalik, but immediately disconnected the phone. “The caller only said he was Pramod Muthalik before disconnecting. When I tried to call back on the number, there was no response. I have given all the five cell phone numbers to the Margao police for investigation. Let the police find out the names of the callers’, he said.
Tousif said there’s nothing derogatory in the tiatr against any religion, community or individuals, but the tiatr only tries to showcase Goa’s rich culture of friendship and communal amity.
While making clear that he would go ahead with the release of the tiatr on August 9, Tousif said he would seek police protection as a precautionary measure.
