Staff reporter
Guwahati: An argument took place between senior journalist Maini Mahanta and a Uber driver. The driver, Jitendra Barman, faced accusations of misconduct, prompting him to issue a public apology at Dispur Police Station on Monday.
The incident took place late Sunday night. Soon after that, Mahanta filed a formal complaint at Dispur Police Station, citing the driver’s unprofessional and threatening behaviour.
Barman admitted his mistake and explained why he had to ask Mahanta to seek an alternative ride due to his deteriorating health, which resulted in the cancellation of the trip.
Barman is a retired army personnel who left service in 2017. He picked up Mahanta from the Kalakshetra area. According to him, tensions arose when Mahanta requested the car’s air conditioning be switched on. Barman stated that his behaviour turned inappropriate near the Six Mile locality, where he eventually asked Mahanta to leave the vehicle.
Mahanta took to X, stating her ordeal, tagging Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh, urging help.
Maini Mahanta, in her post, stated, “ Yesterday night, I booked an Uber Premier in Guwahati. I asked the driver to turn on the AC, but he refused, saying, “I have not booked an AC ride.” When I requested he turn it on due to my dust allergy, he rudely told me to get down if I wanted the AC. When I called my husband to enquire if Uber has any such categories, the driver stopped the car on a deserted road, hurled abuses, tried to manhandle me, and forced me out of the vehicle. Fearing for my life, I got down and had to call for help in the middle of a deserted road at night. I filed an FIR at Dispur Police Station regarding this.”
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