TEAM HERALD
TIVIM: Taxi services in Pernem taluka were largely affected on Monday, when the agitating taxi operators assembled in large numbers and blocked the Chopdem Bridge, paralysing traffic along the route. Ten taxi operators were later arrested by police in this connection.
The taxi operators blocked the Morjim side of the Chopdem Bridge from 5 am after which a police force led by DySP Serafin Dias, Pernem PI Tushar Lotlikar, Mapusa PI Tushar Vernekar and Anjuna PI Paresh Naik along with Pernem Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad and the Mamlatdar rushed to the site. The police and government officials tried to pacify the taxi operators, but they refused to disperse from the site.
Some taxi operators expressed anger after accusing Health Minister and local MLA Laxmikant Parsekar of failing to meet them and listen to their grievances when he travelled along the area.
In a memorandum submitted to the deputy collector, the protesting taxi operators stated that they have opposed the entry of Ola cabs and other private companies from running taxi services in the State.
DySP Serafin Dias and the deputy collector requested the agitators to protest by the roadside, so that traffic would not be disrupted. The taxi drivers, who had blocked the route by squatting on the road and placing branches, refused to leave the area. They accused Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of fooling them thrice in the past by giving false promises.
Left with no option, DySP Dias ordered the police to arrest 10 protesting taxi operators and the other operators later dispersed from the site.
The 10 accused have been arrested on charges of rioting, forming unlawful assembly, blocking the road and causing inconvenience to public.
