Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 26: Ola cab drivers mobbed the Ola Lease Mela organized near Lalbagh here on Friday January 26 and set pamphlets and banners on fire.

The protesters said that the current operators of Ola cabs are not getting enough trips therefore are unable to repay bank loans raised for buying vehicles. "At a time when many people working as operators of Ola cabs are finding it hard to clear their vehicle loans and are thinking of committing suicide, Ola has been creating false hopes among unemployed youngsters and pushing them into the abyss of unending loans," they said. The protesters, under the banner of Dakshina Kannada District Online Taxi Drivers and Owners Union, set the banner put up in front of the Lease Mela on fire besides burning pamphlets.

After destroying the tent set up for the Mela, the drivers laid siege to Ola office. Inspector of Barke police station, Ramakrshna, intervened and held a meeting of company representatives and union leaders. Thereafter, under pressure from drivers, the company suspended the Mela.

Honorary president of the union and Democratic Youth Federation of India district president, B K Imtiaz, president, Jagaraj Rai, Sadiq Kannur, Munawar, Kamalaksha Bajal, Abubakker, Shiva, Naushad, Subhash Jappu, Altaf and Wajid led the protesters.