Ola driver, owner arrested for thrashing youth

In another incident of harassment caused by driver and owner of an app-based car, a student of Raja Bazar Science College was beaten up when he protested against the misbehaviour of the car’s driver.

Police said that the student, Supriyo Naskar had boarded an app based car at around 5.30 pm on Monday to return home at Behala Sil Para. Incessant rainfall had led to traffic congestion on Monday evening.

Thus, like many others Naskar too had got stuck in the traffic jam and he had managed to reach only up to Lake Gardens at 7.15 p.m. The driver of the cab had grown impatient and refused to take Naskar ahead.

He asked him to get down from the car when it was raining heavily. The youth, however, refused to leave the car and tried to contact the helpline number of the cab operator. He alleged that there was no response from the customer care service.

By that time the driver Iqbal had contacted the owner of the car Niraj Singh and had asked him to come to the spot. Singh reached to the Lake Gardens and found the driver was engaged a heated altercation with the youth.

The youth told them that he would give them the fare only if he is given a drop up to Behala Sil Para. Local people in the area had also requested the driver not to harass the youth as the weather was unfavourable.

Paying no heed to the request of the local people, both the driver and the owner of the car started pushing him and finally beat him up. Though the police are yet to confirm, the youth alleged that the duo had even snatched money from him. Police have arrested the duo.

The state transport department sought report from the operator in this connection.

It may be mentioned that reports have been sought from the same operator twice in the past two days as a fashion designer was heckled by driver of another car of the same operator on Saturday.

It may be mentioned that in a bid to reduce such incidents, the state transport department has recommended certain steps that the app-based car operators have to install in all cars as early as possible.

Sources said that a meeting was held in this regard in the transport department as two incidents have taken place in such a small span of time. Senior officials had a talk with the authorities of the app-based cab operators in this regard.