In a distressing incident, a Bengaluru woman, Athira Purushothaman, has accused a Rapido driver of sexual harassment during a ride. Shockingly, the incident occurred when Purushothaman was returning home after participating in a protest against Manipur violence at Town Hall area in the city.
Allegations and Twitter Thread on Rapido
Purushothaman spoke about her harrowing experience through a Twitter thread, tagging the ride-hailing startup. She alleged that the driver engaged in “inappropriate behavior” while riding through a remote area with no other vehicles around. Fearful for her safety, she remained silent throughout the ordeal.
She also raised concerns about Rapido’s background verification process for drivers, urging the platform to prioritize user safety.
Bengaluru Police Takes Cognizance
Bengaluru Police has acknowledged the matter and directed its personnel to take necessary action in response to the incident. However, Rapido is yet to issue any statement regarding the allegations.
Additional Issues with Rapido
Purushothaman also pointed out several other issues with the bike-hailing platform. She claimed that the accused driver arrived on a different bike than the one shown on the app, citing that the registered bike was under servicing. Additionally, to protect her home address, she requested the driver to drop her 200 meters away from her actual destination. Despite this, the driver persisted in calling and messaging her on WhatsApp.
Past Incidents and Safety Concerns
This incident has once again brought attention to similar cases involving Rapido drivers. In recent months, there have been incidents of molestation attempts and rape involving Rapido drivers, raising questions about the background verification processes and user safety measures of ride-hailing platforms.
As the ride-hailing industry continues to grow, it becomes imperative for such platforms to enforce strict norms and take decisive actions against erring drivers to ensure the safety and security of passengers, especially women.
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