CALANGUTE: The turf war between taxi drivers and rent-a car operators escalated to a ruckus on Friday. Despite warnings issued by the police to desist from harassment tactics, a gang of private rental car owners in the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt reportedly blocked a taxi driven by Rajan, who was ferrying tourists from Mopa Airport to Calangute on Friday evening. The gang not only obstructed the cabbie, but also hurled abuses and threats at him, said the taximen.
Within hours, a large number of tourist taxi drivers from Mopa airport gathered at the Calangute police station till late on Friday night, to lodge a complaint after the driver was blocked at the Dolphin Circle in Calangute while returning to Mopa after dropping off a passenger. The vicious bullying is believed to be retaliation for an earlier incident at Mopa airport, where a private car owner from Calangute was caught trying to illegally rent out his vehicle.
“Our vehicle had come from Mopa to drop passengers at Calangute when six persons blocked the car and started asking the driver about his badge and other things. The driver immediately dialled 112 after which police came and brought them to the Calangute police station,” the Mopa taxi drivers said.
“These are the same people who were behind the incident in which the private car was caught at Mopa airport. They have also posted warnings on social media. In Calangute, people have bought cars which are being given on rent even though they’re private vehicles. We are opposed to private cars being given on rent. The government should take action against them, because they are affecting our legal taxi business,” they said.
