Auto driver arrested for molesting woman inside the vehicle

Kolkata: A middle-aged woman was allegedly molested by an auto-rickshaw driver inside the running vehicle. The incident took place at the Netaji Nagar area on Wednesday evening.

On the basis of the complaint lodged by the victim, police have arrested the accused Iman Ali Khan on late Wednesday night. He was remanded in judicial custody after being produced at Alipore Court. The court has directed the police to submit the case diary on Friday.

Police said that the victim, a resident of Bansdroni area, boarded the auto-rickshaw near Usha More along with her son. She sat on the front seat just next to the driver. The woman alleged that the accused had touched her inappropriately inside the running vehicle.

Despite her protests, the accused kept touching her repeatedly. When she reached Gariahat, the woman started shouting and this had attracted the attention of the local residents.

The local people managed to catch hold of the accused. After being informed, police reached the spot and took the woman and the driver to the Netaji Nagar police station. Police later arrested the accused auto driver Khan, who is a resident of Narendrapur area.

As the news of his arrest spread, many of the auto-rickshaw drivers of Tollygunge-Garia route gathered outside the police station on Wednesday, protesting against the arrest of their colleague.

When the woman was departing the police station along with her son, the auto-drivers allegedly hurled expletives at them. After being scared, the woman stepped into the police station again. Police later escorted the victim and her son to their house in a police jeep.

The auto-rickshaw services in Tollygunge-Garia route remained suspended from Thursday morning, following cease work by the drivers, causing serious inconveniences to the passengers.

An auto union leader of the route, however, denied the allegation, saying that false charges have been brought against the accused driver. The victim woman, however, told the police that they were receiving threat calls to withdraw the complaint.