Bhubaneswar, Odisha: A protest by app-based cab, auto-rickshaw and bike drivers in Bhubaneswar over fares and working conditions turned violent at Master Canteen on August 19, leading to 113 arrests and the seizure of 354 vehicles, police said.
The drivers had been protesting against what they said were difficult working conditions on ride-hailing platforms. Their demands included higher fares, lower platform charges, payment for waiting time and compensation when passengers cancel rides. They also sought greater regulation of app-based transport services and social-security benefits.
The protest had been under way since August 17. On Wednesday, a large group of drivers moved towards the Master Canteen and railway station areas, where vehicles were parked on roads and traffic was disrupted.
Police said the situation later escalated when some protesters allegedly threw stones at security personnel and damaged public and police vehicles. Several police personnel were injured in the clashes. Reports from the Bhubaneswar Police Commissionerate put the number of injured police personnel at 15.
Police subsequently registered seven FIRs at Kharavela Nagar police station. Two were based on complaints from members of the public, four followed complaints from Ama Bus staff and one was filed by police, according to the police statement.
By the early hours of August 20, police had arrested 113 people and forwarded them to court. Another 60 people who had been detained were released on bonds for maintaining good behaviour. Police also seized 354 vehicles in connection with the incident.
The investigation has continued beyond the initial arrests. Police are examining CCTV footage and other video recordings to identify people allegedly involved in the violence and damage to property.
The protest’s leadership has also come under scrutiny. Dinabandhu Nayak, president of the Online Auto Association, was arrested in Puri after police had been looking for him. Before his arrest, Nayak released a video apologising to the public for the violence and said the protest was driven by the livelihood concerns of drivers rather than political motives.
The drivers’ demands have meanwhile highlighted a wider issue facing people who earn their living through app-based transport. Fares, platform commissions, waiting time, cancellations and social-security benefits have become increasingly important issues as more drivers depend on digital platforms for their daily income.
But those demands remain separate from the allegations arising from the Master Canteen violence.
Police have said strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the violence and damage. At the same time, an arrest is not a finding of guilt. The allegations will have to be tested through the legal process.
For now, the investigation continues, with police reviewing evidence and identifying those allegedly involved in the clashes.
What began as a protest over the working conditions and earnings of app-based drivers has now become a significant law-and-order case in Bhubaneswar, with the legal proceedings still unfolding.
