Bhubaneswar: Police have arrested 113 people and forwarded them to court in connection with the violence during the rideshare drivers’ protest at Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
According to a police press note issued on Thursday, another 60 people were released on bonds for maintaining good behaviour. Police have also seized 354 vehicles in connection with the incident.
Seven FIRs were registered at Kharavela Nagar police station in connection with the matter. Of these, two cases were registered based on complaints from the general public, four on reports by Ama Bus staff and one on the complaint of a police personnel.
The action follows Wednesday’s violent clashes between protesting app-based taxi and auto drivers and police near Station Square and Master Canteen.
The protesters had gathered to press for regulation of fares charged by online cab and bike taxi platforms. They were demanding that the government and aggregator companies jointly fix minimum and maximum fares, besides seeking compensation for drivers for waiting time and passenger cancellations.
The situation turned violent after protesters allegedly blocked roads with vehicles and clashed with police. The agitators allegedly pelted stones at security personnel and vandalised at least 10 Ama buses and two police vehicles.
Police used baton charges and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Several police personnel, including Capital police station Inspector-in-Charge Radhakanta Sahu, were injured in the clashes.
Police have warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found taking the law into their own hands.