Agartala, July 28: In a major crackdown on passenger harassment at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, Tripura Police on Tuesday arrested two auto-rickshaw drivers accused of intimidating travellers after they booked an Uber auto. The Transport Department has also cancelled the driving licences and permits of the accused, signalling a zero-tolerance approach towards harassment of passengers.
The arrested drivers have been identified as Jhutan Acharjee and Dipankar Debnath. They have been booked on criminal charges in connection with an incident that allegedly took place outside the airport on July 24.
According to police, the action follows complaints lodged by passenger Binita Ghosh and Uber driver Sriram Debnath, who alleged that the accused, along with several associates, intercepted the Uber vehicle shortly after it exited the airport premises. The group allegedly demanded inflated fares, surrounded the vehicle, verbally abused the passengers, and threatened them.
The complainants further alleged that one of the accused forcibly snatched the vehicle’s ignition key, preventing the family from leaving the spot and creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
A video of the incident, which surfaced on social media and quickly went viral, triggered widespread public outrage and renewed concerns over the harassment of passengers by local transport operators outside the airport. Several commuters have alleged that such incidents are not isolated, claiming that app-based taxi and auto services are often obstructed by groups of local drivers demanding higher fares.
Following the incident, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury directed officials to take immediate and stringent action against those responsible. He warned that the government would not tolerate any attempt to harass passengers or disrupt lawful transport services.
Acting on the minister’s directive, the Transport Department issued show-cause notices to the accused drivers before cancelling their driving licences and vehicle permits. Officials said the actions of the accused amounted to serious violations under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and other applicable laws.
Tripura Police said further investigation is underway to identify and take action against all other persons allegedly involved in the incident. Authorities maintained that the arrests are intended to restore public confidence in airport transport services and send a strong message that organised harassment of passengers will not be tolerated.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe, hassle-free, and transparent transport services for residents and visitors using Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport.
