Bhubaneswar: A middle-aged woman was robbed of cash, mobile phone and a bag before being pushed out of a running auto-rickshaw even as the city was yet to forget the December 23rd night incident where a young girl was allegedly molested in the similar manner by two youths.
An auto-rickshaw driver allegedly robbed of Rs 5,200, a mobile phone and a carry bag of the women who had hired the vehicle to go to Badagada Brit Colony from Baramunda Bus terminal last night.
Instead of being taken to her destination, the auto-driver forcibly took the woman towards Mancheswar area and robbed her. She was pushed out from the running vehicle as the woman shouted, the police said adding that the victim had sustained minor injuries.
"The incident took place at about 11 pm in the night when the entire city was celebrating the New Year," the woman told in her FIR at Mancheswar police station.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nitinjit Singh, however, rejected the allegation of molestation and claimed that it was a case of robbery. "The motive of the crime was purely robbery," the DCP said.
The police have meanwhile arrested the auto-driver, the DCP said.
The victim woman, who hailed from Nalanda area in Bihar, was staying here along with her child and running a ladies shop in Badagada area.
Earlier on December 23rd night, another girl was allegedly molested in a running auto-rickshaw while she was returning from Barmunda Bus Terminal to Master Canteen area.
She was also pushed out of the vehicle as she refused to oblige the two unknown co-passengers. Three persons including the driver were arrested in this connection.