The Kolkata Police has warned foreign nationals about taxi drivers in the city and has asked them not to take advice from the drivers.

Not to carry wallets in the back pocket but inside jacket pocket, or side pocket of the trouser; to keep their pocket books on their lap while having dinner; to carry pocketbooks in the bend of one’s elbow close to the body are some of the advisories issued by the Kolkata police to foreign nationals visiting the City of Joy.

The move, however, has drawn flak from the taxi associations in Bengal who have threatened to launch an agitation against the police.

Senior police officers, however, remained silent on the issue. Javed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of police headquarters, said: “I do not look after the website, please contact the joint commissioner of police, Special Task Force.”

Rajiv Kumar, Joint Commissioner, in charge of the STF, could not be contacted.

“I have read it. Are taxi drivers thieves or dacoits? Taxi drivers are guides for everyone, including the foreign tourists. How can the Kolkata Police announce such a thing? When has a taxi driver harmed a tourist? We strongly condemn the campaign against taxi drivers. If one should not ask for advice from the drivers, they should also not seek advice from the police. They take bribes, drivers do not. Let the police arrange for special vehicles for foreign tourists,” said Bimal Guha, president of the Bengal Taxi Association.

“We are thinking of launching an agitation against the move,” he added.

... contd.