Beware of taxi drivers,police tell foreigners

The move,however,has drawn flak from the taxi associations in Bengal who have threatened to launch an agitation against the police.

Senior police officers,however,remained silent on the issue. Javed Shamim,Deputy Commissioner of police headquarters,said: “I do not look after the website,please contact the joint commissioner of police,Special Task Force.”

Rajiv Kumar,Joint Commissioner,in charge of the STF,could not be contacted.

“I have read it. Are taxi drivers thieves or dacoits? Taxi drivers are guides for everyone,including the foreign tourists. How can the Kolkata Police announce such a thing? When has a taxi driver harmed a tourist? We strongly condemn the campaign against taxi drivers. If one should not ask for advice from the drivers,they should also not seek advice from the police. They take bribes,drivers do not. Let the police arrange for special vehicles for foreign tourists,” said Bimal Guha,president of the Bengal Taxi Association.

“We are thinking of launching an agitation against the move,” he added.

The advisory issued recently and posted on the Kolkata Police website has been sent to all hotels and restaurants. It speaks about a number of precautionary measures to be undertaken by the foreigners. One of the 12-point advisories read: “… Never take advice of taxi drivers regarding your stay/tourism. Please strictly believe in the information of police officers on duty…”

The police said there are number of police officers who are deputed — in uniform — outside the arrival hall and parking area of the hotels. The foreigners should contact these officers and inform about the “undesirable elements” and touts,they said.

Driver convicted for murder
While two months ago CITU members brought the city to a standstill to protest against the arrest of bus drivers under non-bailable offences,a lorry driver was convicted on Wednesday under Section 302 of IPC for mowing down a traffic guard. According to the Kolkata police,this is a first case where a driver was convicted for murder.

The incident took place on July 14,2005. Samarendra Nath Saha Mondol of South West traffic guard,posted at the crossing of Ramtanu Lahiri Street and Diamond Harbour Road,signaled a lorry to stop after it violated a “no entry” sign. After driver Mehadi Hassan Bhandari stopped the vehicle,Mondol asked his licence and other papers. Bhandari,however,switched on the ignition. Noticing that the driver was trying to flee,Mondol came in front of the lorry. The lorry,however,knocked down the sergeant and fled. — ENS