MAPUSA
Three GoaMiles drivers were allegedly assaulted by seven local tourist taxi drivers late Thursday night, Calangute police informed.
Police have lodged two FIRs and booked all seven and are on the lookout for the alleged accused who are absconding.
The incident happened in Calangute after 11 pm on Thursday, when the GoaMiles drivers were returning home after dropping their guests.
Calangute Police informed that GoaMiles driver, Suresh Naik, after dropping his guest stopped near the Fat Fish restaurant in Calangute to fetch a bottle of water, when suddenly, one of the accused, Yogesh Govekar, and a group of tourist taxi drivers, allegedly caught hold of Naik and beat him up with fists and blows.
In another incident, GoaMiles driver Mehboob Nadaf (28) of Raia along with another colleague were returning home after dropping their guest.
The same group of local taxi drivers stopped the vehicle, abused Nadaf and his colleague and also beat them up.
Police also informed that both the cars were damaged by the alleged accused.
According to Calangute Police, all three GoaMiles drivers suffered simple injuries and were sent home after medical evaluation.
However, GoaMiles, the app-based aggregate in a press release stated that their drivers were badly beaten up and injured in the assault.
“There was a dire assault against GoaMiles drivers. Our driver was grievously injured and bleeding profusely in the attack,” a GoaMiles press note said.
The press note further said that GoaMiles has taken a firm stand against the lawlessness and was monitoring the situation.
“GoaMiles will write to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to initiate action against such antisocial elements who use foul language and want to create fear in the minds of the authority and take the law into their own hands and inflicting violence,” the press note added.
Meanwhile, Calangute Police has booked all the accused taxi drivers under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 323 (assault), 427 (causing mischief), 504 (breach of peace), 506 (II) (threaten) r/w 49 IPC.
Calangute Police is investigating further.
Game-plan to defame
us: Local taxi driver
MAPUSA: The accused Yogesh Govekar, who is allegedly involved in the assault of the three GoaMiles drivers on Saturday, said he was not absconding and the move to implicate him in the assault was planned by GoaMiles to defame the local taxi drivers.
“It’s a well-planned game of GoaMiles to defame the local taxi drivers with the help of government machinery. They want to spoil our movement against app-based taxis,” Govekar said in a recorded video.
He said GoaMiles was indulging in such tactics in order to take over the business of the local taxi drivers.
He also cautioned the local taxi drivers not to get carried away with false information and to remain united.
