Taxi aggregator complains of intimidation by Salcete cabbies

Raikar along with the taxi operators from Margao later called on Margao MLA Digambar Kamat with a plea to stop harassment meted out to taxi men from Margao going to the hotels along the Salcete coastal belt to pick up customers.

Raikar’s police complaint comes a day after tourist taxi operators from North and South Goa assembled at the Colva police station to register an FIR against him for what they termed as derogatory remarks against certain tourist operators.

In his complaint, Raikar pointed out that certain tourist taxi operators who assembled at the Colva police station had used abusive and vulgar language against him and even issued threats to his life and threatened to cause grievous hurt to him and destruction to his drivers and vehicles.

“This incident has caused immense fear and distress to me and my family. I feel threatened and unsafe, knowing that a group of individuals has openly threatened me with violence. The fear of potential harm to my life, my family, and my business is overwhelming”, he said, while urging the Margao Police to take prompt and appropriate legal action by registering my complaint against those involved for committing the offence of criminal intimidation.

Raikar later told the media outside the Margao police station that he and his app-based taxis have been operating legally along the coastal belt, but are being harassed with violence and threats by the tourist taxi operators. “We are operating our taxis legally. But, when we go to pick up our guests from the hotels along the coastal belt, our drivers are being attacked and harassed”, he said, demanding action against the tourist taxi operators.

Raikar along with the taxi drivers called on the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat at his residence and explained how the app-based taxi men are being harassed and attacked by the tourist taxi operators in the coastal belt. He has sought intervention from the government to put an end to the harassment.