Auto-rickshaw driver arrested for molesting female passenger

Kolkata: An auto-rickshaw driver of Sonarpur-Garia route was arrested on the charges of molesting a woman inside the running vehicle. The incident occurred near Teghoria More area on Thursday evening.

The other auto-rickshaw drivers of Sonarpur-Garia route stopped plying their vehicles on Friday morning to protest against the arrest of the accused driver. The incident caused inconvenience for the daily commuters.

Police said that the accused auto-rickshaw driver Tarak

Das had molested a woman, a government employee, who had boarded the vehicle at Missionpally area on Thursday evening.

The victim, who was going to Sonarpur, had sat next to the driver on the front seat. It was alleged that the driver had touched her inappropriately inside the running vehicle. When the woman protested against the incident, the accused had hurled expletives at her.

The victim told the police that she had boarded the vehicle at Missionpally area. On her way to Sonarpur, the auto-rickshaw driver picked up another passenger who sat on the front seat.

A few minutes later, when the vehicle was crossing Teghoria More area, the accused driver molested her. She asked the driver to stop the vehicle but he did not pay any heed to her plea. She also alleged that she was roughed up by the driver as she protested against her abuse.

Later, the woman got down at Sonarpur and went to the local police station to lodge a complaint. On the basis of the complaint, Sonarpur police arrested the driver on Friday morning. As the news of his arrest spread, the other auto-rickshaw drivers of the same route staged a protest at Sonarpur, demanding the release of the accused.

The incident triggered tension in the area, which prompted policemen to reach the spot. They tried to pacify the irate mob but they were reluctant to join their duty. As a result of this, the passengers faced difficulties while going to their workplaces.

The situation was brought under control later in the day through the intervention of senior police officers, following which the auto-drivers of the route also joined their work.