Agartala, 28th July 2026 : Authorities have taken action against two auto-rickshaw drivers following allegations of passenger harassment at Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, after the incident drew widespread attention on social media.
The controversy began when passenger Binita Ghosh alleged that airport auto-rickshaw drivers demanded Rs 400 for a trip to Siddhi Ashram. She instead booked an app-based auto-rickshaw for Rs 170. However, as the vehicle attempted to leave the airport, two airport auto drivers, identified as Dipankar Debnath and Jhuton Acharya, allegedly stopped the vehicle, snatched its keys, and refused to return them despite repeated requests. Binita later retrieved the keys herself and shared the incident on social media.
Following public outrage, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and the Transport Department directed the Airport Police to investigate the matter. Acting on the complaint, police detained the two accused drivers for questioning. According to the complainant, their permits and driving licences have also been cancelled.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Airport Police Station confirmed that the two individuals were detained based on complaints received from the passenger and the Transport Department. The investigation is currently underway.
The incident has once again highlighted recurring complaints of passenger harassment by some auto-rickshaw drivers operating at MBB Airport. Despite repeated concerns, the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework has allowed such incidents to continue, causing inconvenience and distress to passengers.
