Hyderabad police foil cabbies' hunger stir

Hyderabad: The indefinite hunger strike held at Dharna Chowk on Wednesday by the Telangana Cab Drivers and Operators’ Association was foiled by the Gandhinagar police who took the leaders into preventive custody. Association president V. Shiva along with nine others were taken from the hunger strike camp and to the Gandhinagar police station.

Earlier, the leaders demanded that the Ola and Uber managements hold talks with the cab drivers and redress their demands. Leaders of a few trade unions and political parties extended support to the drivers and visited the camp.

By 5.30 pm, Chikkad-pally ACP J. Narsaiah and police personnel visited the camp and asked the organisers to vacate the place as permission was given from 10 am to 5 pm. The drivers refused, and asked the police to allow them to continue with the hunger strike.

Mr Narasaiah asked them to follow the rules and the police would give permission for the next day. The police gave them time to pack up. At about 6.30 pm, they arrested the leaders and took them to the Gandhinagar police station, where they were released.

Mr Shiva said he would continue his hunger strike till the managements redressed their problems. Drivers continued their protests across the city and tried to block cabs, A few cab service providers reportedly changed the number plates to avoid inconvenience to the commuters.