Auto driver accused of assaulting Rapido rider in Bengaluru apologises

BENGALURU: Days after a video of an autorickshaw driver allegedly assaulting a Rapido bike taxi rider with a helmet went viral, the former has publicly apologised for his behaviour and claimed that he acted in frustration over not getting any passengers despite waiting for about two hours.

A video of the autorickshaw driver Manjunath breaking a helmet and threatening a Rapido rider had gone viral on social media few days ago. The incident occurred on February 6 at the Indiranagar Metro station around 12.30 pm. A complaint was registered at Indiranagar police station after public outcry.

Autorickshaw driver is threatening a foreign citizen and shouting at him.

Manjunath, the autorickshaw driver said, “I made a mistake when I got angry with the Rapido taxi rider. I had dropped off a passenger around 10.30 am and even after two hours, I had not got any hire whereas some Rapido riders had got customers. The fact that they are taking away our earnings was playing on my mind. Insulting the rider saying that he is a foreigner was a mistake and I have realised it now. We too have families and I request the government to regulate bike taxis or exempt us from paying road taxes every year”, he added.