Ola and Uber operators in Guwahati have sought help from the police in checking young people who hire cabs to have drinks or sex and turn aggressive if asked not to.
The All-Assam Cab Operators’ Association said at least 40 members have had their accounts blocked after “aggressive lovers” complained to the taxi aggregators when told not to turn the back seat into “some kind of bar” or “bed for obscenities”.
Some young people have also roughed up drivers while others offered more money than the actual fare to let them be, the Association said.
“This has been going on for some time now. As per the rules of the companies, we cannot refuse clients on any ground. But some young people, many of them teenagers, take advantage and do the unthinkable in the cabs,” Ismail Ali, the Association’s president, told The Hindu .
He said most of the incidents have happened after 10 p.m. and the couples or groups of young people who hire the cabs often do not go to the destinations selected.
“They leave used condoms, beer and whiskey bottles in the cars, besides stains. And when we object, they assault us and complain to our companies. Some of us have had their accounts blocked temporarily for up to three months,” he said.
“Most of us are educated and drive cabs because we have no jobs and have families to maintain. Our president is a graduate, as I am with English as a major,” Debojyoti Deka, a member, said.
He added that the police have assured them assistance to check harassment of cab operators by unruly young clients. “The incidents happening inside Ola, Uber cabs have been brought to my notice. We have asked the drivers to lodge a complaint, without fear, mentioning the mobile phone number of the passenger so that we can take up the matter,” Hiren Chandra Nath, Guwahati Commissioner of Police, said.
