Team Herald

PANJIM: Panjim Police are still undecided on whether to summon the taxi union leaders who instigated the protesting mining dependents on March 19, that led to the State capital being paralysed for over four hours.

Panjim Police Inspector Sidhant Shirodkar said, “We have identified them, but are yet to decide whether to summon them. I am waiting for instructions from the superior officers.”

Mining dependents who were protesting at the Kranti Circle near KTC were instigated to violence by taxi owners who had extended support for the cause.

All Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association (AGTTOA) leaders addressed the crowd demanding that the protestors go all out and not fear the police force.

AGTTOA general secretary Vinayak Nanoskar addressing the crowd had said, “We taxi owners of Goa will show the mining dependents what to do and show this government what we Goans are. If anything happens against our fellow brothers then we will be with them. Whatever the government can do, let them do. They want to fire at us or beat us up, we are ready for anything.”

“No one needs to fear. Whether they do a lathi charge or fire bullets at us, we will not back out. If some of us die during this protest, our future will be better, don’t be scared,” are words of the taxi union leaders that possibly instigated the protesters.

Laxman Korgaokar, another taxi union leader has also addressed the crowd with a fiery speech.

Even four days later, the police are yet to decide to call or register an offence against the taxi union leaders who without being invited had joined the protest and instigated the mining dependent.