Rapido bike taxi rider assaulted by auto drivers at Mysuru railway station, video goes viral

Mysuru: Even as news of the Karnataka High Court granting permission for bike taxi services continues to trend widely, a disturbing video showing an alleged assault on a Rapido bike taxi passenger by auto drivers at Mysuru railway station has gone viral on social media, triggering public outrage.

The incident reportedly took place late on Wednesday night at the Mysuru railway station premises. According to allegations, a 19-year-old youth who had booked a Rapido bike taxi to travel from the station was assaulted by a group of local auto drivers.

The youth managed to record the assault on his mobile phone, and the video has since spread rapidly across social media platforms. The victim’s sister shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), accusing auto drivers of attacking her brother solely for opting to book a bike taxi instead of using an auto-rickshaw.

She claimed that her brother had chosen the Rapido bike taxi as it was a more affordable option. However, the auto drivers allegedly objected and insisted that he travel only by auto.

“In the video, the auto drivers can be seen abusing the bike taxi rider and questioning why he had booked a Rapido bike. When he objected to their behaviour, they assaulted him,” she alleged in her post. She further claimed that the auto drivers also verbally abused the bike taxi rider and attempted to intimidate him.

The woman stated that her brother immediately informed the police about the assault. However, she alleged that when police arrived at the spot, they advised both parties to settle the matter amicably instead of taking strict action against the attackers. This claim has added to the criticism surrounding the incident.

In another emotional post, the woman expressed shock and helplessness over the incident. “I usually do not post such things on social media. But seeing how helpless a common citizen can be in such situations has shaken me. I felt powerless and unable to do anything,” she wrote.

She has tagged ERSS Karnataka (Emergency Response Support System), the Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police, and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, urging authorities to take strict action against those involved.

The incident has sparked renewed debate over commuter safety, enforcement of law at transport hubs, and the ongoing tension between traditional auto drivers and app-based bike taxi services. Police officials are yet to issue a detailed statement on whether a formal case has been registered, but sources said the matter is being looked into.

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