Bengaluru: An undated video of an auto-rickshaw driver in Bengaluru purportedly engaging in a verbal spat with a Rapido bike taxi driver has gone viral on social media, less than two days after an auto-rickshaw driver was accused of harassing a woman passenger for cancelling his ride.
At the time of writing this on Friday night, the video posted by an X account named Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) had amassed over 2.35 lakh views and 1,400 likes.
In Bengaluru, an auto driver has been reportedly harassing and assaulting other auto drivers using a disruptive tactic. The individual books Rapido bike taxis and then cancels the bookings once the drivers arrive at the designated location. This behavior is accompanied by… pic.twitter.com/a5wsCNOWer
— Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) September 5, 2024
The post alleged that the auto driver seen in the video has been harassing and assaulting Rapido bike taxis drivers by booking rides and cancelling them once the drivers arrive at the location. According to the account, the altercation occurred in Electronics City Phase 2.
The man recording the video, purportedly a Rapido bike taxi driver, alleged that the auto-rickshaw driver (KA 02 AJ 7815) had booked a ride, cancelled it and picked a fight with him.
"He asked me who gave me the permission to operate the taxi. I asked him if he had the order copy and he told me whiteboard vehicles cannot operate. I told him that there is a stay order at the high court but he was not ready to listen," the man behind the video could be heard saying.
The argument escalated quickly, with both men yelling at each other about how the other is in the wrong, but it did not come to blows.
According to the Parappana Agrahara police, no case has been filed at the police station.
Adhinarayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, explained that this has been a common experience for all bike taxi drivers.
"Many choose to let it slide and don't come forward to file complaints out of fear. Some people have simply quit and moved away from the job," he said.
M Manjunath, president, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers' Union, expressed his condemnation of the auto-rickshaw driver's actions.
"We have informed the drivers to not take the law into their own hands and instead inform the RTO. Some drivers are finding it difficult to sustain their families and are taking it out on the bike taxi drivers but this is not excusable because it will ultimately hinder our cause too," he said.