Killing of taxi drivers: Locals in shock

Mangalore, August 31: Murders of two taxi drivers in the space of a month, has come as rude shock to a community that toils to earn a livelihood. Lure of making an extra buck from acquaintances and sometimes total strangers who come to hire taxi ostensibly to go to longer destinations at odd hours is proving to be a fatal option for taxi drivers, a fact that Hussain, resident of Kabettu and Govardhan, resident of Urwa did not live to tell. They may not be the last.

K Monappa Bhandary, president of D K Zilla Taximen Mathu Maxicab Association was livid that members were ignoring instructions that are being given repeatedly at each association meeting. "Fatal consequences of this callousness are there for all to see," he told TOI when queried about Hussain and Govardhan. "Members have been often told not to take strangers on taxi trips without informing the park 'pramukh' from where they operate," he said.

Even if they are faced with the inevitable eventuality of undertaking a trip, Bhandary said, the members have been instructed to take the contact details of persons they propose to take, inform other drivers in the park from where they operate, as well as their family members before setting out. Apparently, members are throwing caution to wind and these deaths are needless to state the least, he says. "We will reiterate this to our members again," he said.

City Police Chief Seemanth Kumar Singh said the city police would come out with guidelines to prevent recurrence of such incidents. "We have a strategy in mind," he said without going in to the details, adding, "I will discuss it with my officers and implement it." Observing that the police would require cooperation from associations of taximen, Seemanth said proposed steps could include a system of booking a taxi after verifying antecedents of the person.

While Hussain was murdered and body thrown in to swollen Thunga from a bridge near Thirthahalli, body of Goverdhan was found in a bush near Belman. While police nabbed Hussain's assailants, efforts are on to nab Goverdhan's killers. Common guidelines for taxi men and those transporting BPO/IT employees is something we are considering, Seemanth says. "We will cooperate with police in preventing such incidents," Monappa adds.