Cell phones save taxi driver from major assault

The South Asian Times, New York

by Raj S. Rangarajan

New York: Many of us have heard of the taxi driver of Indian origin who was attacked last month by a female passenger in a yellow cab in Manhattan. But, did you know that the 22-year- old rookie driver Neeru Singh was female and was saved from major assault thanks to a 2-way cell phone that taxi drivers use to communicate with their bases and their fellow drivers?
Neeru (originally from Ludhiana), had picked up a ride at 55th Street and 10th Avenue on a Tuesday morning and her destination was a hotel in the Chelsea area (28th Street and Ninth Avenue). Reportedly, the passenger, Paula Mergel, got agitated after hearing chatter on the cell phone between taxi drivers, and started making unsavoury remarks about other races.
At some point the passenger allegedly attempted to choke the driver while the vehicle was in motion.

Since the cell phones were switched on, other drivers including Rajni Tak (originally from Hoshiarpur) and Raminder Gill (originally from Haryana) heard the struggle within the cab and rushed to the Chelsea area to rescue Neeru. These feisty Punjabi women helped stave off a major incident thanks to some quick thinking. Following a 911 call from a cabbie and directions from Neeru, the police were able to locate the passenger who had fled on foot. She was charged with assault, attempted robbery and harassment.

Rajni said, "she heard heavy breathing over the phone" and that the police noticed the assailant's finger prints on Neeru's neck as also cash strewn around the cab. Rajni, speaks Spanish as well and has been driving for 12 years. Her husband is a limo driver. While the Taxi Commission prohibits cabbies from using cell phones when on duty, Rajni added, "its
attempted time we ask for exemptions in emergencies."

Also rushing to rescue her fellow driver in Chelsea was Raminder who was furthest away from 86th Street and Columbus Avenue. Raminder, said, "I have been driving a cab for four years it's a fun job to drive a taxi" and though she enjoys her job, hopes to return to India to join her family's business in Punjab. In her earlier job she was an import coordinator in Manhattan's fashion district.

Neeru, who studied history and English at Khalsa College in Ludhiana, hopes to open a restaurant once she accumulated enough savings. Her dad too is a taxi driver. Neeru's favorite movie is Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and her favorite star: you guessed it -- Shahrukh Khan.