Female journalist harassed by other woman passenger while travelling by Uber

Journalist Ushnota Paul was harrassed by a woman co-rider while travelling by Uber. Paul was mentally and physically abused by the woman. Sustaining marks on her face and hands, she went to the police station, got an FIR filed but Uber failed her. The company refused to reveal the identity of the alleged woman. Angry, she took to Twitter for grievance redressal and justice.

Ushnota Paul, a journalist was allegedly harrassed by another woman while she was travelling by Uber. It all began when Paul intervened in a matter between the driver and the woman co-rider. Enraged, the woman co-rider targeted and attacked Paul mentally as well as physically.

While getting down at her drop, the woman hit Paul several times on her face and hands and ran away inside her office building. Paul, after the incident went to LP Police Station and got an FIR filed. Mumbai Police was reportedly very supportive. However, Uber failed her. On asking for the details of the suspected woman, they refused to divulge it due to security provisions.

Disappointed and exasperated, Paul took to social media to throw some more light on the incident. She posted the details of the incident condemning Uber on her official Twitter and Facebook accounts.

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

— Ushnota 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

— Ushnota 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.

— Ushnota 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”.

— Ushnota 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

— Ushnota 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

— Ushnota 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.

— Ushnota 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.

— Ushnota 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.

— Ushnota 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

— Ushnota 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.

— Ushnota Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018

.@MumbaiPolice said a lot of women do not file official complaints even though they face harassment, but I am not going to back down. This wasn't my fault. We, as women, should defend ourselves and stand up for what is right.

— Ushnota 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

— Ushnota Paul (@journojuno) June 25, 2018

Though Uber responded to Paul via their official Twitter handle, twitter users attacked them through their tweets.

Thank you for providing this information. Our team is currently working to resolve this issue and will be in touch shortly via email. We appreciate your patience while we review.

— Uber Support (@Uber_Support) June 25, 2018

Ushnota however found support in humble twitterati who slammed the cab service.

Change your FIR - make @Uber_India accessory to crime after fact by protecting the attacker's identity and refusing to cooperate with local law enforcement. This is obstruction of Justice. @Uber_India should give you name and identity of support executives who refused to help

— Purva Agarwala (@ppurva) June 25, 2018

Great idea. Sue Uber. They are helping that woman no doubt.

— Bahadur (@my2bit) June 25, 2018

I don't know how suing laws work in India but if @UberINSupport doesn't cooperate, your best bet should be to sue them. The way she attacked, she could actually kill you. She is potential threat to lives around her & @Uber_Support is a party to it. Get 'em.

— Soheil Khanzada (@SoheilKhanzada) June 25, 2018

Damn. @UberINSupport i use your cabs everyday and i wouldn’t mind stopping if this is how you treat your customers??! She was ATTACKED. Disgusting policy of yours that won’t reveal details to the cops also?

— K (@KirtikaChandani) June 25, 2018

We hope that Journalist Ushnota Paul will get justice and Uber will get rid of the one-after-the-other controversies!