In Bengaluru, a woman claimed that she was allegedly harassed and physically assaulted by an auto driver after she cancelled a ride booked through the ride-hailing app, Ola. The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday and has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
According to the woman, she and her friend had booked two autos on Ola during peak hours. As she arrived at the destination first, her friend cancelled her ride. However, the driver of the cancelled ride allegedly followed them, visibly angry over the cancellation. Despite their attempts to explain the situation, the driver began shouting and hurling abuse.
The woman took to the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) to describe the ordeal. "The driver went on to verbally assault us, questioning whether the auto belonged to my father and making derogatory comments. I began recording, which enraged him further. When I mentioned reporting him, he challenged me, showing no fear of consequences," she alleged, as per PTI.
ALSO READ: Chilling Crime In Karnataka's Bidar: 19-Year-Old Battered With Stone, Murdered. Police Suspect Rape
She further alleged that the situation escalated when the driver tried to snatch her phone. "I resisted, and he slapped me in front of my auto driver, who did nothing, and bystanders who remained passive. He continued to threaten me, even saying he would beat me with his slippers," she added.
The woman also shared a video of the incident on social media, which drew widespread attention. Responding to her post, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Traffic and Road Safety, Alok Kumar, as per PTI, assured that appropriate action would be taken against the accused. He condemned the driver's behaviour, stating, "Such behaviour is unacceptable. A few people like him give the auto drivers' community a bad name."
Ola responded to the woman's post on the same platform, stating, "This sounds quite alarming. Don't worry, we are here to help you with this."