Bengaluru Auto Driver Demands Excess Fare, Threatens To Beat Up Student When He Refuses – News18

Last Updated:December 09, 2024, 20:18 IST

The student, in a series of posts, shared the distressing encounter on social media and alleged that the driver threatened to beat him up outside his office and even racially abused him and his friend

A 20-year-old college student, who is in Bengaluru for an internship, was allegedly harassed and threatened by an auto-rickshaw driver when he refused to pay excess fare demanded by the man.

The student, in a series of posts, shared the distressing encounter on social media and alleged that the driver threatened to beat him up outside his office and even racially abused him and his friend. And, all because he refused to pay him an additional Rs 200 for a trip booked on the Namma Yatri app.

“Got harassed and threatened by a Bengaluru auto driver. He has told me that he will beat me up outside my office whenever I go. And said racial slurs. He was asking for 200rs extra out of nowhere. Just a 20 year college student returning back from my internship,” (sic) he wrote in a post on X.

According to the student, he booked a trip on the Namma Yatri app for Rs 380 from his workplace in Bellandur to his paying guest accommodation in Mallasandra. But, he alleged, the driver unexpectedly demanded an additional Rs 200 for the 24-km journey, following which the two got into a heated argument.

He further alleged that when he refused to pay the excess amount, the man barged into his PG accommodation and threatened to attack him. He was accompanied by two of his aides, who were in an inebriated condition, he added.

The student further said he paid the auto-rickshaw driver Rs 500 for his own safety, with Rs 400 in cash and Rs 100 via UPI. “Had to pay him 500rs (400cash + 100upi) instead of 380rs(as shown on the app) so he left me and my friend alone as he called two of his drunk friends who were going to beat us. Continuously calling us slurs,” (sic) he added.

The student tagged the Bengaluru police and the Namma Yatri app in his posts on X, where he also shared videos and screenshots of the app showing the trip amount.

Both the police and auto-rickshaw aggregator reached out to the student, asking for details of the incident for further action. The app responded to the student saying: “Hi there. We deeply regret the experience you went through. Situations like this are unacceptable. Your safety and comfort are paramount to us, and we’ll continue working to ensure incidents like this don’t occur. Please DM us for any assistance.”

The app gave the student a refund and blocked the driver’s account. Later, the student said he had received a refund of Rs 120. “Raghav, we hope our team has connected with you. We’ve taken immediate action by blocking the driver from our platform and have initiated the refund. Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” the app wrote on X.