GUWAHATI: Guwahati Police arrested a person on November 13, for the alleged physical assault of a Rapido driver in the Panbazar area, near the Guwahati Railway Station in Guwahati on November 10.
According to reports, the accused was part of a group of students from Cotton University who were involved in hooliganism post their elections in the University, and the Rapido driver only seemed to be a soft target of the disgruntled students.
According to CCTV footage, some persons moving in a red car, bikes, and scooters suddenly stopped in front of the Guwahati Railway Station and picked on the Rapido driver. The victim is Sajid Choudhury, a resident of Mangaldoi. Speaking to the media, the driver said, he was buying food from a grocery when suddenly those men stopped their vehicles and attacked him.
According to a source in the Panbazar Police, the Asom Chatra Parishad leader Trinayan Baruah, and several others were seen in the group. A person named Anupam Mali, a resident from Jalukbari was arrested in that incident, as he was seen carrying a wooden log in the CCTV footage.
Speaking to G Plus, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Panbazar said, "A case was registered and we initiated the investigation immediately. According to the CCTV footage, Anupam Mali was carrying a wooden log to beat the Rapido driver."
The police also brought Trinayan Baruah to the Police Station for interrogation. According to the ACP, it was found that Trinayan was not directly involved in attacking the man.
Sajid Choudhury was taken to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for medical treatment but was later released from the hospital and sent home.
The matter of a driver's safety during work especially at midnight is a major concern. The District Transport Authority launched a helpline number for customers so that one can file a complaint. According to some app-based cab drivers, Government's role is always biased in this matter. The Government's priority is focused on the customers only and the woes of the drivers remain unheard, and all their complaints regarding several issues including security, health insurance, commission, cancellation fee, and so on keep piling up unsolved and unheard.
Speaking to G Plus, the president of the All Guwahati Bike, Taxi Operator Union said, "The drivers are not safe nowadays. This is not the first incident where a driver was attacked. Earlier such an incident took place in Satgaon. The Government must take initiative on this. There is a helpline number for the customers but no helpline numbers launched for the drivers. The drivers are also not safe anymore. They have to work till late at night."
He added, "We tried to contact Sajid, the victim, but he was sent to his home in Mangaldoi. We think political pressure is mounting on Sajid to take back his allegation.”