Got slapped by an auto-rickshaw driver in Bhandup, Mumbai. Filed an NCR.
I had a pretty disturbing incident today and I’m still trying to process it. I was on my scooter near Badwaik Hospital, L.B.S. Marg, Bhandup West, taking a U-turn with my right indicator clearly on. There was oncoming traffic, so I was waiting for a safe gap before completing the turn. I wasn’t blocking any vehicle, including the auto behind me.
The auto-rickshaw driver started continuously honking. I told him, “Bhai, U-turn lena hai, indicator on hai.” Instead of waiting, he started abusing me. I lost my temper and abused him back.
He then shouted, “Side mein laga!” Before I could even react, he got out of his rickshaw. I had just switched off my scooter and was still wearing my helmet when he suddenly slapped me. The impact was hard enough to shake my head.
I immediately took out my phone to record what had happened. The moment he saw me recording, he got back into his rickshaw, continued abusing me, and sped away. I called my dad, who was understandably worried because I had literally left his office just a couple of minutes earlier. He first wanted to make sure I wasn’t injured and even suggested seeing a doctor. He also asked if the driver was still there, but by then he had already fled. My dad then told me to go straight to Bhandup West Police Station and file a complaint. I called two of my friends, and together we went to the police station, where I filed an NCR (Non-Cognizable Report). The police officer told me I should have dialed 100 immediately after the incident, but I honestly told him I was in shock. I’ve never experienced something like this before, and I wasn’t thinking clearly in that moment.
What surprised me was that even the officer commented that some auto drivers behave as if they’re above the law.
Note: I used ChatGPT to help rephrase and organize this post for better readability. The incident and the events described are exactly what happened to me; only the wording has been polished.
TL;DR: I was taking a U-turn on my scooter with my indicator on when an auto-rickshaw driver behind me kept honking. We got into a verbal argument, and he suddenly got out and slapped me while I was still wearing my helmet. When I started recording, he fled. I filed an NCR at Bhandup West Police Station and was advised that I should have called 100 immediately, but I was in shock.