A video of an Ola cab driver being assaulted by a mob of rival union drivers operating under a private cab agency inside the AeroMall at Pune International Airport went viral on Whatsapp on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday night after a verbal altercation escalated into violence in the mall’s parking area.
The victim, identified as Bandu Darade, reportedly got into a dispute while driving from the fourth floor of the AeroMall parking lot to the Ola pick-up point on the first floor. He was responding to a trip request from a passenger when the incident occured.
“I was driving slowly and cautiously on the narrow path to avoid accidents with oncoming vehicles. However, the driver behind me kept honking incessantly and asked me to drive faster,” Darade told The Indian Express.
The situation worsened when Darade stepped out of his car to let the other driver pass. “He started verbally abusing me and then called other drivers from his union operating inside AeroMall. They attacked me, tore my clothes, and hit me with an object. I lost consciousness and had to get stitches on my mouth,” he said, adding that he was also threatened with further harm outside the mall.
Darade received assistance from members of the Maa Saheb Cab Sangathana, another driver union not associated with the AeroMall. He said he filed a non-cognizable (NC) complaint against the accused drivers.
Maa Saheb Cab Sangathana’s leader Varsha Shinde alleged that the attackers belonged to the Sai Nath Taxi Union, which holds a permit to operate inside AeroMall.
Yuvraj Singh Rajput, Vice President of Aeromall Authority, said a dispute between two cab drivers broke out over waiting in the customer queue. “The security personnel immediately intervened, ensuring the matter was resolved outside the AeroMall premises. This incident has no connection with the AeroMall management. Following the resolution, the traffic and pick-up/drop-off arrangements at the location were quickly restored to normalcy,” he said.
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