First Woman Auto Rickshaw Driver Of Delhi Robbed Of Rs 30,000

Sunita Chaudhary has been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 15 years and had been earning her livelihood through this. She was unfortunately robbed of Rs 30,000 on her way back to Delhi.

She was on her way from her native village in Meerut to Delhi when she was robbed by another auto rickshaw driver. Before this she had just gotten down from a bus at Mohan Nagar and was heading to Anand Vihar.

The 40- year-old Sunita Chaudhary was planning to use the money to buy a new autorickshaw. Her previous rickshaw was old and needed replacement as it was in use for the past 15 years. Also being a divorcee, driving an auto is her only source of livelihood.

Talking about the incident she said, “I had deposited all my savings in my bank account and took it out before coming to Delhi. I have a commercial licence and was planning to get a new permit by depositing Rs 10,000 as security and later buy an autorickshaw. Now I am left with no option but to hire an auto on daily rent of Rs 300 and earn livelihood. It is difficult nowadays to get rented autos.”

Giving an account of the robbery Sunita said, “At Mohan Nagar, an autorickshaw arrived with two male passengers in the rear seat and one in front with the driver. I asked the driver to drop me off at Anand Vihar. We mutually agreed on Rs 20 fare. The passenger seated with the driver was made to sit with us on the rear seat. I was told to keep my bag behind me. Going ahead, the auto suddenly stopped near Vasundhara. The driver said that there was some fault in the engine. I also got off the auto and tried to help out,” she said. “After several minutes a passenger on the rear seat handed me my bag and asked me to take another auto instead. I stood on the roadside and started looking for another autorickshaw. Soon, the driver got the autorickshaw running again and drove away suddenly without asking me to board.”

Rather surprised at the turn of events, Chaudhary said that she tried giving the auto driver a chase by getting into another vehicle, but they escaped by going through by-lanes.

The police also said that such robberies were not uncommon in the area. In March there were at least 4 cases of auto gangs who had robbed passengers. These passengers were inclusive of men and women.

She then later on went to the police station, where she was provided with food and fare to reach her next destination. “Based on her complaint, the Sahibabad police registered an FIR under IPC section 379 (theft) at Sahibabad police station.” The police also said that such robberies were not uncommon in the area. In March there were at least 4 cases of auto gangs who had robbed passengers. These passengers were inclusive of men and women.

Shlok Kumar, the Superintendent of Police (SP city) said, “The gangs in previous cases resorted to violence with passengers. They were arrested. This could be some new gang and fled with cash from woman’s bag. We have registered an FIR and also trying to trace them from any CCTV footage available. Inquiries will also be made with local auto drivers.”

It is rather sad, that despite going all out and working to earn a livelihood, Sunita had to incur such a huge loss. It is events such as these which sometimes make people lose faith. However, one can only hope that more and more people get inspired by Sunita and don’t depend on others for their livelihood.

 Kavya Shah is an intern at SheThePeople.Tv