A pall of gloom descended on Goa on Saturday as former Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar died shortly after an altercation with an auto driver in Belagavi on Saturday. The altercation between Mamledar and the auto driver occurred after the former’s vehicle reportedly bumped into the auto. The CCTV footage clearly shows that the former MLA who is a senior citizen was hit multiple times by the auto driver. After initial reports that the accused was an auto rickshaw driver, a clarification was later issued by the Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association in Belagavi stating that he was not a rickshaw driver but a cab driver. Though it was reportedly a minor incident, the cab driver became aggressive and the issue went out of control. There have reportedly been rising complaints of unruly behaviour of cab and auto rickshaw drivers in Belagavi that plans are afoot to have an orientation programme for the drivers along with the police. Such behaviour is unacceptable. The driver whose violent action led to the death of the senior citizen should get the punishment he deserves under the law.
