In response to the increasing incidents of harassment by auto-rickshaw drivers in Pune, Police Commissioner Ritesh Kumar has issued an order for all police stations in the city to conduct immediate inspections of auto-rickshaws and verify the authenticity of their necessary documents. The directive aims to address the concerns of passenger safety and crack down on any irregularities or non-compliance in the auto-rickshaw sector.
The decision comes after a recent disturbing incident where a woman techie was subjected to harassment while traveling in an Uber auto-rickshaw from her office to her home in Handewadi. The auto-rickshaw driver allegedly deviated from the route, took advantage of the darkness, and attempted to molest and assault her. Displaying remarkable courage, the woman managed to escape from the driver’s clutches by jumping out of the moving vehicle. Her husband, who was accompanying her, pursued the auto-rickshaw and eventually apprehended the driver, later handing him over to the Wanowrie police.
Senior Police Inspector Bhausaheb Pathare of Wanowrie Police Station confirmed that the Police Commissioner has instructed all police stations to diligently monitor and verify the presence of all relevant documents possessed by auto-rickshaw drivers. The verification process has already commenced, and strict instructions have been issued to the police personnel involved. Any driver found lacking the required documents or found to be in violation of the regulations will face severe consequences.
According to Pathare, the thorough scrutiny and verification process will cover over 1,000 auto-rickshaws in Pune. The objective is to ensure that drivers adhere to the necessary legal requirements and that passengers can travel with a greater sense of security.
