Kolkata: Passenger 'robs, assaults' app cabby

KOLKATA: An Ola driver was allegedly assaulted and few thousand rupees were snatched from him by a passenger after the duo got involved in an argument over cancellation of the trip. The incident took place in Garia’s Ramgarh area around 8.15pm on Monday.


The victim, Nazrul Ali Mondal (34), lodged an FIR at the Netaji Nagar police station on Tuesday.

Cops have now launched a probe into the incident and are trying to get CCTV footage, which can help in the probe.

According to police, the app-cab driver, who is a resident of Akrampur in Barasat , alleged he had gone to pick up a passenger he identified as Prasenjit Majumder. The FIR stated that once Mondal reached the pickup point, close to Garia CESC office, they got in to an argument over the drop location.

The complaint stated the accused — along with some others — wrongfully restrained and physically assaulted Mondal over an altercation regarding cancellation of the ride.

Mondal further claimed that “taking opportunity of the fact that he was injured.” Majumder fled after snatching Rs 5,000 from his pocket. Police said they are still ascertaining why the argument began and what lead to the cancellation of the ride.

The cops at Netaji Nagar police station have registered the case under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 379 (theft) and 114 (abettor present when incident took place). When TOI contacted Majumder on Wednesday, he refused to speak and asked to call him back in two hours. Since then, his phone was hung up. His aides indicated he was in the process of lodging a counter complaint against the Ola cab driver.

“This is an unfortunate incident and we condemn this act. We have suspended the rider’s Ola account. We stand by our driver-partner and will assist the authorities in their on-going investigation,” said an Ola spokesperson.

Passengers who refuse to pay after a ride and who drink and complain about co-passengers on pool rides are the most common problems, cab drivers told TOI. “Stopping the ride and raising a ticket is the only option out,” said one of them.