Three taxi drivers arrested for attacking tourists

Panaji: Goa Police are investigating a brutal attack on nine Ukrainian tourists by a group of taxi drivers at Candolim beach near Panaji.

Superintendent of Police (North), Arvind Gawas, said that three taxi drivers were arrested after Ukrainians lodged a formal complaint about the incident which took place on Tuesday evening.

Three taxi drivers Agnelo DSouza, Rohit Nagvenkar and Suresh Naik have been arrested for the assault.

The complaint alleges that two Ukrainian women namely Oheru Fedoruk and Serhiv Kvachuk were part of the group, who were severely assaulted with sticks and stones by a group of taxi drivers.

Both were admitted to a hospital and have given their statement to the police.

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According to eye witnesses, the trouble began after one of the taxi drivers drove his vehicle close to the group of Ukrainians who were walking along the roadside near the beach.

The tourists confronted the taxi driver, which sparked the attack. Eye witnesses said that three taxi drivers who were joined by others bashed up women and later began assaulting foreigners.

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Gawas said that initially a complaint could not be registered and action could not be initiated as victims were not in a position to give statements.

"We immediately arrested taxi drivers after obtaining their statement," he said.

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