Following the tragic death of former Goa MLA Lavoo Mamlatdar in Belagavi, auto-rickshaw drivers have raised concerns over misinformation linking them to the incident. Initial media reports suggested the attacker was an auto-rickshaw driver. However, Mohammed Rafiq, Secretary of the Auto-Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association, clarified that the accused is a cab driver operating a Bajaj Qute, a type of quadricycle, which is classified differently in India’s commercial vehicle category.
“We are being wrongly accused. The attacker is a cab driver, not an auto-rickshaw driver,” Rafiq said, urging accurate reporting. The association fears that such misinformation could damage the reputation and livelihoods of auto-rickshaw drivers. The fatal incident, which took place on Saturday, February 15, began with a minor dispute and escalated into violence, resulting in Mamlatdar’s death. Police investigations are ongoing.
Former Goa MLA Dies After Assault in Belagavi
Lavoo Mamlatdar, 68, a former Goa MLA and ex-deputy superintendent of police, tragically passed away in Belagavi following a violent altercation with a driver. The incident, which began as a minor traffic collision, escalated when Shakeel confronted Mamlatdar and demanded compensation. CCTV footage reportedly showed Shakeel repeatedly assaulting the former legislator.
Mamlatdar, who was in Belagavi for a business trip, later collapsed at a hotel and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Mamlatdar had a distinguished career in law enforcement before entering politics in 2012. His sudden death has shocked the local community, and authorities have arrested the accused, with the investigation still ongoing.
Murder Charge Filed Against Driver After Former MLA’s Fatal Altercation
Belagavi police have filed a murder charge against Ameer Sohail alias Mujahid Shakeel (26), a taxi driver who allegedly killed Mamlatdar following a dispute. The incident occurred after Mamlatdar’s car was involved in a minor traffic mishap with Shakeel’s vehicle. Shakeel, suspecting his auto-rickshaw had been damaged, chased Mamlatdar’s car and demanded compensation. When Mamlatdar refused, a heated argument broke out, and Shakeel assaulted him. Despite intervention from bystanders, Mamlatdar collapsed while heading to his hotel and was declared dead at the hospital.
Shakeel, a resident of Subhash Nagar in Belagavi, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The police report suggests Shakeel attacked Mamlatdar with intent to kill, causing internal injuries. Abdul Rafiq, president of the Belgaum Auto Drivers’ Association, refuted claims that Shakeel was an auto-rickshaw driver, emphasizing that this misidentification could damage the reputation of auto drivers in the region.
