MAPUSA
The situation at Calangute Police Station turned tense on Thursday evening after police arrested tourist taxi driver, Yogesh Govekar alias Mugambo, on charges of instigating his colleagues against the GoaMiles drivers.
Several agitated local taxi drivers assembled at the Calangute Police Station and demanded that they too be arrested and sent to jail.
The accused driver Yogesh Govekar (39), a resident of Anjuna had allegedly sent messages to his fellow drivers asking them to take action against GoaMiles drivers.
Calangute PI Nolasco Raposo informed that he received two audio messages wherein the accused driver was found instigating his colleagues.
He said in one audio message, the accused was found asking the taxi drivers to gather at the Dolphin Circle, Calangute at 5 pm on Thursday and in the other message he asked the taxi drivers to bash up one driver, who is plying GoaMiles taxi.
“The taxi driver, Yogesh Govekar, personally came to Calangute and was found behind the Calangute Church trying to gather other taxi-drivers thereby creating law and order problem in the Calangute area. We immediately arrested him to prevent any law and order situation,” PI Raposo said.
The PI said if the drivers have any problem, they should resolve it amicably with the government.
“We cannot remain silent spectators to such incidents without taking action. They cannot take the law into their hands. We will produce the accused before the magistrate with a request to make him execute a bond with heavy sureties,” Raposo said.
The accused has been arrested under Section 151 of the CrPC.
This is the second time the accused has been arrested by police within 10 days.
He was first arrested in a criminal offence for assaulting GoaMiles drivers and also damaging their vehicles on February 7.
Govekar along with six other local tourist taxi drivers allegedly restrained and assaulted three drivers of GoaMiles close to midnight on February 4.
