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BANGALORE: A protest by Meru cab drivers turned ugly when six two-wheelers were set on fire and five cars damaged in front of the Meru Cabs office in Hennur police limits, Bangalore East, on Saturday afternoon.
The office, located in HRBR Layout 1st Block, was ransacked after angry protesters barged in. Police and fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A few protesters were taken into custody while many fled the scene when police arrived.
According to Hennur police, some drivers were holding a protest outside the office, and opposed a few other cab drivers who went in to deposit the daily collection. "There was tension when a group of drivers began protesting. They were demanding increase in pay. Meanwhile, some drivers arrived to deposit the daily collection. The agitators stopped them from entering office," police said.
This ignited the situation. "Seeing things going out of hand, a few employees went out and took the drivers, who had come to deposit money, inside the office. That's when they began throwing stones," police said.
"We were protesting for a long time and no one cared about us. When a handful of drivers came to deposit money, they invited them. Again, we requested officials to settle the matter, but they just ignored us. Someone torched the two-wheelers parked outside," said a detainee with the Hennur police.
"The management pays only Rs 60 for every 4km, which is insufficient. We are incurring losses due to a hike in fuel prices, stiff competition and increase in maintenance cost. We urged the management to increase our pay, but there was no response from the management," the drivers alleged.
The office, located in HRBR Layout 1st Block, was ransacked after angry protesters barged in. Police and fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A few protesters were taken into custody while many fled the scene when police arrived.
According to Hennur police, some drivers were holding a protest outside the office, and opposed a few other cab drivers who went in to deposit the daily collection. "There was tension when a group of drivers began protesting. They were demanding increase in pay. Meanwhile, some drivers arrived to deposit the daily collection. The agitators stopped them from entering office," police said.
This ignited the situation. "Seeing things going out of hand, a few employees went out and took the drivers, who had come to deposit money, inside the office. That's when they began throwing stones," police said.
"We were protesting for a long time and no one cared about us. When a handful of drivers came to deposit money, they invited them. Again, we requested officials to settle the matter, but they just ignored us. Someone torched the two-wheelers parked outside," said a detainee with the Hennur police.
"The management pays only Rs 60 for every 4km, which is insufficient. We are incurring losses due to a hike in fuel prices, stiff competition and increase in maintenance cost. We urged the management to increase our pay, but there was no response from the management," the drivers alleged.
