Senior journalist and editor of Nandini Magazine, Maini Mahanta, encountered an alarming incident on Sunday evening when a cab driver reportedly misbehaved with her and left her stranded in the middle of the road. The incident occurred as Mahanta was returning home after attending an event in Panjabari, Guwahati.
According to reports, Mahanta had booked a cab, identified as a Premier Swift Dzire with the vehicle number AS 01 PC 7175, for her journey. During the ride, she requested the driver to turn on the car’s air conditioning due to her dust allergy. However, the driver allegedly began hurling abuses at her in response to the request.
In her FIR filed at Dispur Police Station, Mahanta described how the driver stopped the car abruptly and demanded she get off the vehicle. Concerned for her safety as it was dark, she initially refused to exit the cab and called her husband for assistance. The situation escalated when the driver allegedly attempted to assault her, forcing Mahanta to leave the vehicle and seek help by dialing 100.
Mahanta later approached Dispur Police Station to formally report the incident. “I feared for my life and got off the car. I narrated my ordeal to the police and filed a complaint against the driver,” Mahanta stated in her report.
The incident has raised concerns over passenger safety in Guwahati, particularly for women traveling alone at night. Authorities are currently investigating the case, and further action against the accused driver is awaited.