Mokokchung, September 10 (MTNews): All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) Mokokchung Unit has expressed remorse over the 6th September 2022 incident at Khatkhati, Assam involving an intoxicated taxi driver and stated that appropriate action will be initiated against the driver.
Tongpang, the president of the ANTA Mokokchung Unit, during a press conference on September 10, stated that the incident had been widely circulated on social media. It was stated that the driver of the regional taxi (Tata Sumo) with the registration number NL 02T 2111 was extremely intoxicated, endangering the safety of the passengers and tarnishing the association’s reputation.
The ANTA Mokokchung Unit highlighted that the Association has taken proactive measures to address the problem in order to allay public concerns and uproar around the incident.
They made it clear that the driver was not a part of the ANTA Mokokchung Unit and that he was only hired to drive on that particular day due to an emergency as the owner of the vehicle from the Konyak community met an incident on a two wheeler on September 05 and was restricted to drive on medical grounds and that it was impossible to cancel the tickets for the September 06 trip as it had been already sold out on September 03.
The Association has stated that both the driver and the owner of the car would be summoned when the driver, who is now in judicial custody, is released.
They said, “The ANTA Mokokchung is ready to act in accordance with the Association’s established norms and regulations.”
Regarding the viral video, the president explained that the vehicle was halted after the incident to safeguard the passengers, and the counter promptly dispatched a substitute driver, who arrived at the scene without additional delay.
However, when the replacement driver asked the passengers to occupy their proper seats so they could continue travelling, according to them, all the passengers complied with the driver’s request, but the woman remained outside and recorded the video.
According to ANTA Mokokchung Unit, the driver requested the woman not to post or share the footage since a replacement driver had been arranged and all of the passengers were prepared to continue the trip, but the woman refused and the video quickly became viral.
“Everyone has the right to their freedom of expression, and the Association does not criticize the lady’s action. What the woman has done may have been necessary on her side. However, the Association has recorded evidence about the request made by the driver to the lady,” they said.
ANTA operates under a constitution with the motto “Service to the public.” Registering with the association is required for anyone who wants to drive a taxi.
“The Association will ask for information like the driver’s name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration before issuing an identification card,” they said.
However, “since we don’t have spare drivers during an emergency, drivers are arranged for emergency reasons, but on that day it was really regrettable and we convey our regret sincerely,” ANTA Mokokchung Unit said.