’I watched in horror as the auto landed on me’

Says 37-year-old Emerald Sharif, who hung on for dear life as she was dragged, pushed out of an auto by a driver bent on refusing her 'short' fare

'I watched in horror as the auto landed on me'

Says 37-year-old Emerald Sharif, who hung on for dear life as she was dragged, pushed out of an auto by a driver bent on refusing her 'short' fare

An auto driver dragged a 37-year-old woman for a considerable distance with half her body scraping the road and even tried to push her out of the vehicle, all because her destination was too close for his liking.

As the woman hung on for dear life, the auto toppled onto her because of the driver's antics, injuring her further.

Emerald Sharif at her home after she got injured due to the reckless behaviour of an autorickshaw driver at Andheri yesterday

Emerald Sharif stepped out of her house at Marol-Maroshi Road at 9.30 am yesterday and was trying to get into an auto near her place to go to the nearby Marol Naka, when the driver started the vehicle and tried to drive off.

"I had just put my right leg into the auto when the man drove off. My left leg was still outside and it scraped the road for a good five-six seconds.

I was yelling at the driver and pleading that he stop the auto, but he was trying to push me out instead. The three-wheeler could not retain its balance because of this and it toppled to its side. I watched in horror as it landed on me," said Sharif.

"The rickshaw driver may have been a local one and he may have known that I go to Marol Naka every day.

It gives me the jitters to think that auto drivers are so hell-bent on making more money and refusing short fares that they don't mind injuring passengers to get their way.

I immediately called the police, who reached the spot after two hours, and, meanwhile, my friends took me to Hiranandani Hospital," she added.

The errant driver, Satish Kumar (25), was taken to the Powai police station by the cops at 2 pm and a panchnama was done.

However, when Sharif's husband, Javed, went there to register an FIR, he was allegedly told that no FIR could be registered unless the victim needed at least five stitches.

'Everyday affair'
"Are they waiting for me to lose a leg before they take action against him?" asked Sharif.

"It is no secret that auto drivers refuse short fares even to senior citizens. It's not like we want them to take us to our destinations for free. They will continue to do as they please unless strict action is taken against them."

Sapna Sethi (47), another local resident, said, "I remember having to ask 22 auto drivers once before one finally agreed to take me to my destination.

Their refusal of short fares is a menace not only in Andheri but all over the city. The authorities need to take action against such errant drivers."

Mohan Sabele, sub-inspector, Powai police station said, "We went to the place where the incident occurred and arrested Kumar.

An FIR has been registered and he will be taken to court soon. He stands to be penalised and/or imprisoned for a period of 1-5 years."

Sharif, meanwhile, was sent home from the hospital after her wounds were dressed. She has been advised bed rest for at least eight days and has been asked to visit the hospital regularly for check-up.