Bengaluru: A woman from Bengaluru tweeted about the Rapido bike taxi driver masturbating in front of her during her ride and sending inappropriate messages after finishing the ride.
The post she shared describes the shameful incident about the driver and a screenshot of the messages. “Today, I went for the Manipur Violence protest at Town Hall Bangalore and booked a @rapidobikeapp auto for my way back home. However, multiple auto cancellations led me to opt for a bike instead” the tweet reads.
It seems that the driver called the woman who had texted him, inquiring why he was reaching out to her after the payment was completed. In response, the driver sent her a text saying “I Love You” along with a kiss emoji.
According to the woman’s account, the driver arrived on a different bike, explaining that the one registered with Rapido was undergoing servicing. She confirmed the booking through his app and proceeded with the ride.
Thread 🧵#SexualHarassement
Today, I went for the Manipur Violence protest at Town Hall Bangalore and booked a @rapidobikeapp auto for my way back home. However, multiple auto cancellations led me to opt for a bike instead. pic.twitter.com/bQkw4i7NvO— Athira Purushothaman (@Aadhi_02) July 21, 2023
However, during the journey, they reached a remote area with no other vehicles around. Shockingly, the driver started riding with one hand and engaged in inappropriate behaviour by masturbating while riding the bike. Feeling alarmed for her safety, the woman remained silent throughout the distressing ordeal.
To protect her privacy, she asked the driver to drop her off 200 meters before her actual destination, concealing her home location. After the ride was over, the driver began incessantly calling and messaging her on WhatsApp, causing harassment and distress. To put an end to the unwanted contact, she had to block his number.
Even after blocking his number, the woman reported that the driver persisted in calling her from different numbers. When she tweeted about her traumatic experience, the official handle of Bengaluru police responded, requesting her contact details and assuring her that necessary action would be taken. The city police urged her to provide further information through direct messaging.
This distressing incident highlights the importance of safety measures and stringent actions to protect passengers’ well-being when using ride-hailing services.
