A large group of South Goa taxi operators has submitted a memo randum to the Superinten dent of Police (SP), South Goa, at the district police headquarters in Margao on Thursday, alleging re peated harassment by local drivers and seeking urgent intervention to safeguard their rights and safety. In their representation, the operators claimed that in recent days, groups of local drivers have con fronted them at various locations, demanding to inspect documents with out authority and forc ing them to vacate public areas. They alleged that even when drivers paused briefly for tea or lunch breaks, they were ordered to leave and subjected to needless arguments. Highlighting a recent incident at Palolem on Wednesday, the opera tors said one of their col leagues was physically as saulted by a group of local drivers. A police complaint has already been lodged at the Canacona Police Sta tion in connection with this case, they added. The memorandum not ed that several such con frontations have taken place across Goa within a week, including at Nanu Resort in Varca, as well as at Calangute and Baga. The operators said the intimi dation has created an un safe working environment, making it increasingly dif ficult for them to operate as licensed drivers. They urged the author ities to take strict action against those harassing genuine operators and to issue clear instructions so that no one without prop er authority interferes with taxi operations. “We are law-abiding drivers with all required permits and documents. However, illegal operators without valid papers are freely ply ing, while we face repeat ed obstruction,” the mem orandum stated. The operators also re quested the police to veri fy PSV badges and permits of all drivers, pointing out that unlicensed operators were hurting their liveli hoods and damaging Goa’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. They further appealed for measures to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers, arguing that unchecked harassment not only endangered indi viduals but also tarnished the state’s tourism image. The memorandum, signed by individual taxi operators from South Goa, called on the SP to address the issue on priority and provide protection to gen uine drivers