3 booked for assault; 2nd helmet attack incident in 5 weeks
The vehicle that was damaged by tourists at Naikavaddo, Calangute, on Wednesday.
MAPUSA
Calangute Police have booked three tourists after a local taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle vandalised near Little Goa restaurant in Naikavaddo-Calangute on Wednesday evening.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 4.30 pm when a group of tourists on four two-wheelers were travelling along the road.
One of the two-wheelers reportedly collided with a taxi coming from the opposite direction, causing the rider to fall.
Enraged by the accident, the tourists allegedly took the law into their own hands and began attacking the taxi driver with a helmet.
Sensing the aggression, the driver fled the scene, leaving his car behind.
The angry tourists then turned their fury on the vehicle, severely damaging it by smashing the windshield and rear mirror.
Following the incident, Calangute Police registered a case against three tourists – Manish Tomar (40), Vijay Rajput (47) and Dhruv Rajput (21). Further investigation is underway.
Incidentally, this is the second time in five weeks where tourists have used a helmet to attack a driver.
There was widespread public anger after visuals of two tourists from Nasik-Maharashtra allegedly assaulting a car driver with helmets and fists at Sangolda on February 6 had gone viral on social media.
The two tourists, Faiz Sheikh and Arkan Sheikh, were later arrested in this connection while the car driver Savlaram Salgaonkar (43) of Badem-Assagao received treatment in the Goa Medical College hospital.
The incident had occurred when the car struck the rent-a-bike on the road near the Mahindra showroom at Sangolda.
The two accused then parked the scooter in front of the car and allegedly began assaulting Salgaonkar with helmets and fists, causing him head injuries.
Acting on a police complaint, Saligao police contacted the owner of the scooter, who informed that he had given his two-wheeler on rent to a tourist staying at Baga. Saligao police later arrested both accused in the connection.
