Uber is indeed a safe cab provider, but some incidents leave us shattered. Many people have an opinion in their minds that as compared to normal cabs, Uber is secured & convenient. However, a journalist from Mumbai will never ever take Uber again in her life, thanks to the worst experience that she had.
This journalist Ushnota Paul faced racial assault by her co-passenger in Uber Pool. She shared the cab with a woman who started fighting with the driver for charging her more and dropping her last. When Ushnota tried to sort out, the woman started verbally abusing her.
Ushnota said,
“The woman seemed to be too violent and banged the hand rest on my bag kept between us and also, on my hand. I picked the bag and put it beside the driver’s seat. I guess that must have pushed her to the edge. It was almost near Urmi Estate in Lower Parel, (where her drop was) when she made racist comments”
Before that woman left the cab, she pulled Ushnota’s hair, scratched her face and treated her in a very bad way. After all this, Paul filed a complaint with the police. Complaint. Uber didn’t disclose the identity of that woman owing to the “Privacy” factor.
She took to Twitter to describe her overall experience. You can’t miss this thread.
Hi @Uber_Support , I had the worst experience today morning. Was Uber pooling with a woman who was hostile from the very start. She started yelling at the driver saying she’s paying the “most” & still she’s getting dropped last. When I tried to intervene I was verbally abused. pic.twitter.com/4uHLUii3X7
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
Reasoning with her was futile. She called me all sorts of names & tried to provoke me when I went completely quiet. Was reading something on my mobile & refused to give a reaction even though she went on her abusive rant calling me the worst abuses that I’m too ashamed to mention
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
Then she banged the hand rest on my bag kept b/w us & on my hand. And asked me to remove my “dirty things” from her. I still didn’t react. Picked the bag and put it beside the driver’s seat. I guess that must have pushed her to the edge.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
It was almost near Urmi Estate in Lower Parel (where her drop was) when she went completely racist and called me a “chinky” & a “chinky s**t”. I told her it’s racist to which she said “haan toh? Kya Kar legi”.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
I tried to click her picture and she immediately snatched it away from me and threatened to break it. I know she would've so I didn't try clicking anymore. Before she got down from the cab,she physically attacked me,grabbed me by my hair,tore off clumps of hair, scratched my face
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
I tried to defend myself with both hands trying to protect my face & I got huge scratches there too. I started crying & she hopped off the cab & went inside Urmi estate. A crowd gathered. The guard of Urmi estate came to my rescue & asked me to file a police complaint immediately
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
I was too shocked & was crying hysterically so it didn’t even occur to me that this woman has ran away inside her office building. Went to LP police station & filed an official FIR. Mumbai Police was very supportive.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
They calmed me down, wrote down my complaint & sent few officers to Urmi Estate to track the woman down. The driver was with me throughout & gave his statement because it was for him that I had intervened in the first place.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
Uber refused to give the woman’s details stating “customer privacy”. The police officer called them in front of me and said there’s a formal complaint against this woman & yet Uber didn’t help. If she’s your customer, so am I.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
I have been physically & verbally assaulted in broad daylight by a complete stranger. The whole back seat of @Uber is full of clumps of my hair,I have injury on my face & hands & I'm definitely psychologically scarred. I take Uber twice everyday & yet I know now that I'm not safe
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
Then she banged the hand rest on my bag kept b/w us & on my hand. And asked me to remove my “dirty things” from her. I still didn’t react. Picked the bag and put it beside the driver’s seat. I guess that must have pushed her to the edge.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
Uber won’t do anything when it comes to my safety. If they don't respect what the Mumbai Police are saying to them, I am a mere civilian and definitely I am not safe.
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
I have a copy of the original FIR and I will not back down. Think twice before taking Uber. I am shaken and terrified with the whole experience right now. I. AM. DONE. pic.twitter.com/G9WMuhbyWc
— June Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018
This is really really bad. After seeing such tweeets, Uber took to Twitter to apologise and know the details.
Hey Ushnota, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. As discussed, we’ve reached out to law enforcement authorities to offer any information that could be helpful in their proceedings. We will keep you updated via the in app help section.
— Uber India Support (@UberIN_Support) June 25, 2018
Hope Uber takes proper safety measures and keeps women comfortable and safe.