The drivers get a taste of public fury outside Ghatkopar station; flee after being cornered and their vehicles damaged
The autorickshaws destroyed by the public outside Ghatkopar station last night. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
A petty argument over fare blew up into full-fledged mayhem last night after the public jumped to the defence of a passenger being beaten up by three autorickshaw drivers outside the Ghatkopar station. The police arrested two of the drivers this morning for assault. One is still absconding.
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The police said Malesh Gauda (25), a resident of Parksite, Vikhroli, who whips up fresh dosas near Vidyavihar railway station, hailed an autorickshaw after work around 10 pm to get to Ghatkopar station. He had all his cooking utensils with him.
Demand for more money
The fare for the ride came up to R18. Gauda handed Rs 20 over to the driver, Mudasar Aman Sayyed (31). The driver, however, demanded more money for the cooking utensils. When Gauda refused, an argument broke out between him and the driver. Sayyed was soon joined by two autorickshaw drivers from the vicinity, and the three allegedly began thrashing Gauda. Sayyed also allegedly removed a wiper blade of his autorickshaw and attacked Gauda with it, leaving him with serious injuries.
Malesh Gauda, whose beating set off ignited simmering anger
Anger inflamed
Commuters who were restlessly waiting outside the station to hail autorickshaws watched the brawl unfold. The anger simmering in them over refusals by autorickshaw drivers to ply was ignited by the assault. They jumped into the fray, and hit back at the drivers. They even destroyed four autorickshaws nearby. Cornered, the four drivers fled.
Gauda approached the police around 1 am to file a complaint about the assault. The police registered a case under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC, and arrested Sayyed and another driver, Sameer Salim Kazi (27) this morning. Their accomplice is absconding. The police have not initiated any action for damage to the autorickshaws.
Police sources said the commuters to joined the brawl were frustrated with autorickshaw drivers’ refusal to ply short distances, and Gauda’s assault was the trigger that gave a release to the bottled-up discontent.
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