CALANGUTE: In a shocking incident, unknown persons broke the window glasses of a tourist taxi (Innova) belonging to an executive member of the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association (NGTTOA) at Candolim, reportedly causing damages of more than Rs 1 lakh.
The glass of the windows was broken with a heavy object, marks of which were visible on the vehicle. The incident apparently occurred between 4 and 4.30 am, Saturday, while the taxi was parked near a Candolim hotel.
Taxi owner Laxman Korgaonkar alias Bappa later filed a complaint with Calangute Police over the incident. Korgaonkar has alleged that it could be the handiwork of the private taxi owners whose vehicles were detained by the Police for illegal taxi trade. NGTTOA has condemned the incident and has urged the police and government authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Speaking to media persons outside the Calangute Police Station Korgaonkar said, “I very much suspect the hand of the private taxi owners in the incident. I feel they needlessly targeted my vehicle due to my presence while the private vehicles were being detained by the Police. The vehicles are still at the Calangute Police Station. I suffered damages of Rs 1 lakh due to the incident.”
Ravindra Vengurlekar, Vice President of NGTTOA said, “The government of Goa has appointed a special squad to keep track on private taxi trade, etc, but I feel they are not doing their job properly. If they had to act firmly we would have perhaps not witnessed an incident like this today. It is high time the special squad carries out their duties without favouring anyone to curb the illegalities.”
NGTTOA President Vasudev Arlekar and General Secretary Vinayak Nanoskar too condemned the incident and urged the Police to nab the culprits. They also urged the government to initiate steps to avoid repetition of similar incidents or else they will be forced to take the matter to its logical conclusion.
A large number of taxi owners and drivers were present at the Calangute Police Station to show their solidarity with the executive member. The members of Save Calangute were also present to express their solidarity.
