MARGAO: Jennifer Fernandes, wife of tiatrist Francis de Tuem was arrested by Margao police on charges of assaulting tiatrist Conception De Tuem. A case of rioting has been registered against Jennifer and 15 others.
The incident occurred during the staging of the tiatr ‘Answer’ at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Saturday evening. Answer’ director Conception De Tuem was singing on stage when suddenly he was attacked by a woman and a crowd of over 15 others. He was later taken to hospital and then to police station. Conception said he was beaten and received several bruises. Police claimed it to be personal enmity. While Conception received treatment for his injuries, Jennifer was granted bail late night. Margao Police will ask for the lyrics of the song to verify the episode.
Conception said, “Francis De Tuem has threatened me in the past for singing at a tiatr. After that I have never spoken to him. He may have got angry on my comment that we should not criticise politicians on their personal life.”
The ruckus broke out just as the tiatr reached its half time. Jennifer, allegedly took objection to the song and along with a crowd of 15 climbed on to the stage and assaulted Conception. It took some time for the backstage crew to realize what was happening and come to Conception’s aid. The crowd also tore banners of the tiatr. Seeing the situation go out of hand all entrances of the auditorium were locked. Several tiatr lovers came to the police station and demanded strict action against the accused assaulter.
Witnesses to the assault said, “We had come to watch the tiatr but we were disappointed.” A woman who had come with her children said, “I came along with my son to watch it. But the entire ruckus has frightened my son and me too. I guess we won’t be coming to watch tiatr anymore.”
People were also heard saying such incidents are damaging the image of tiatrs. “If tiatrists start scuffling amongst themselves like this on stage, then, tiatr will never grow and all the actors will be discouraged to act forever,” said Conception.
People also recalled that earlier Francis De Tuem’s tiatr was interrupted when he was criticising Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco in his song. Everyone had condemned Mickky for stopping the show midway and that it is hypocritical that Francis’ wife now stops a tiatr.
