Thiruvananthapuram: An Uber driver, who had dropped off a tourist at Kovalam, was allegedly assaulted by a group of local taxi drivers on Sunday afternoon, reigniting concerns over recurring conflicts involving app-based cab operators in the area.
Incident Details
Kovalam police have registered a case against four identified individuals and initiated an investigation into the incident. Officials stated that further action will be taken based on the findings. The victim, Federick, 26, a native of Kumbalam in Kollam, filed a complaint alleging physical assault and verbal abuse by four persons, all identified as local taxi drivers. According to the complaint, the incident occurred around 3:30 pm. Federick had arrived from Ernakulam with a family and dropped them off at Kovalam. He later stopped near a shop to drink water when a group of drivers approached him. They asked if he was an Uber driver and told him not to take rides from there, Federick stated in his complaint. The confrontation escalated into an argument, during which he was allegedly assaulted by the group.
Recurring Conflicts
The latest incident is part of a series of similar complaints from the tourist hub. In 2022, a German tourist was reportedly threatened, and in 2023, a Dutch national was allegedly assaulted by local taxi drivers. Federick said, We have been urging authorities to take stricter measures to prevent such attacks, which could adversely impact our reputation and safety perception among visitors.
Kovalam, a popular beach destination, has seen tensions between app-based cab drivers and traditional taxi operators, who often accuse Uber and Ola drivers of stealing their business. Police have increased patrolling in the area but incidents continue to occur.
