Woman tourist, cabbie fight over fare

CANACONA: An altercation between an American woman visitor and the taxi driver who ferried her from Panaji to Palolem over the fare on Tuesday evening, reached the local police station with cross-complaints filed by both parties. Canacona police said there was a quarrel between the two over the taxi fare when they reached Palolem and the verbal fight ended up in fisticuffs.
The American alleged that she was assaulted by the driver as he pulled her by her hair. The driver on the other hand alleged that the American slapped him on his face. The woman has been sent for a medical check-up and the report is awaited, police said. "We have received two written cross-complaints and these are under inquiry," a police source said.
Explaining the events based on the complaints filed, police said that during the journey the foreigner needed to answer nature's call for which the driver took her to a pay toilet in Margao. As it was dirty, she declined to go in and accused the driver of taking her to a "dirty toilet". She also scolded him for not taking her to a decent toilet, police said.
On the way to Canacona another verbal duel broke out and on reaching Palolem the woman refused to pay the driver the fare of Rs 1,500. She claimed it was exorbitant. The driver, angry at not getting his fare, didn't allow her to take one of her bags from the vehicle warning her that unless she paid he would not release her bag. The tourist then asked why she was dropped off at Palolem when she wanted to go to Agonda.
Around 7pm the altercation took a physical turn. Police said the American alleged that the driver pulled her by her hair and assaulted her. On the other hand, the driver claimed the American slapped him on his face. Locals soon gathered and the police were called. The duo were summoned to the police station where cross-complaints were lodged. Police said the medical examination was to ascertain the facts. PI Raju Raut Desai is investigating the case.