Autorickshaw drivers, who have been on strike in the city demanding that the government ban bike taxis, have been detained by the city police.
C Sampath, General Secretary of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union said that around 300 autorickshaw drivers were detained and taken away from the city railway station, including 8-10 women drivers too.
"We were piled into a BMTC bus that brought us to the City Armed Reserve Headquarters ground on Mysore Road," he said.
However, M Manjunath, president of the union, alleged that nearly 500 people were arrested at the railway station, with the number being much higher across the city. "I have been informed that around 2,000 auto rickshaw drivers have been arrested across stations in the city," he said.
Autorickshaw drivers have been on strike demanding that the government ban bike taxis that are running "illegally" and adversely impacting their earnings.
Several other union leaders reportedly haven't been letting autorickshaw drivers run their vehicles across the city, with one such occurrence being reported on Bannerghatta road.
Tanveer Pasha, President, Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association said that around 10.30 am, autorickshaw drivers gathered in front of the KSR Railway Station, Majestic to demand a ban on bike taxis running "illegally" in the city.
He said that the police began arresting the drivers soon after. "It seems there is no freedom to even strike here. Auto drivers are demanding action against illegal bike taxis in the city but the government is acting as if they know nothing," he said.
Cottonpet police confirmed that 150-200 people were detained at the City railway station and taken to the City Armed Reserve Headquarters, Cottonpet.
(Published 20 March 2023, 06:50 IST)
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