Sikkim taxis prevented from operating at Bagdogra by aggrieved Siliguri taxi operators

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, MAY 30, 2023 : Flyers landing at Bagdogra airport on Tuesday had to face trouble in finding transport for Sikkim after drivers from Bagdogra barred taxis from Sikkim to ply in the airport parking and pick-up passengers.

Taxis with a Sikkim number plate were allowed to drop the passengers but asked to leave the premises without carrying a single passenger from the airport. This was done as a mark of protest against the alleged physical assault by Sikkim Police late on Monday evening near Sichey in Sikkim.

Taxi drivers from Bagdogra Sauraj Rawat and Rakesh Das sustained injuries after the alleged attack. According to Suraj, he had parked his vehicle on the roadside as there was no space in the parking lot at around 8:05 pm after dropping the passengers.

“A police officer came and asked me not to park the vehicle and after a discussion policemen assaulted me and my friend in an inhuman manner, even after several requests.” 

Later, Suraj and Rakesh were taken to STNM hospital for treatment. They were released afterwards. 

Since Tuesday morning, drivers barred vehicles with a Sikkim number plate from carrying passengers. These vehicles were also not allowed to ply in the parking area of the airport. 

Susan Rai, a taxi driver from Pelling in Sikkim who was also prevented from picking up passengers, said:“ This is not fair. If the protest is against the police, why we drivers have to face the consequences? We support drivers from West Bengal drivers during trouble inside Sikkim and here they are misbehaving with us. We are the bread earners and have not harmed any drivers from West Bengal.” 

Representatives from the Drivers’ Union Sunil Gurung from Congress, Rajen Kumar from BJP, Dipak Ghosh from CPI(M) and Jay Gurung from Trinamool Congress left for Sikkim from Bagdogra later on Tuesday after senior officials of Sikkim Police called the for an emergency meeting to resolve the issue.