Tension ran high at Chandrasekharpur petrol pump in Bhubaneswar after a staff of the filling station allegedly thrashed a cab driver following an altercation over online payment issue on Sunday.
The cab driver has been identified as Santosh Puhan. He sustained critical injuries in one of his eyes and has been admitted to a nearby hospital.
Following the incident, several cab drivers assembled near the filling station immediately and staged a protest demanding the arrest of the petrol pump employee. They also put pressure on the owner of the pump to bear the expense for Puhan’s treatment.
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According to reports, Santosh filled his vehicle with petrol and gave online payment to the employee of the fill station. However, the employee claimed that he didn’t get the payment in online mode and asked him to pay in cash again. Puhan refused to give cash leading to a heated exchange of words between both of them.
The petrol pump employee lost his cool and attacked Puhana. Other employees of the pump also joined in the clash leaving Puhana seriously injured. Later, he was rescued and admitted to a nearby hospital by other cab owners.
Members of Odisha Cabs Owners’ Association staged a protest near the petrol pump following the incident. They demanded immediate arrest of the employee who had first attacked Puhan. They also asked the owner of the pump to bear the treatment cost of the injured.
Upon being informed, Chandrasekharpur police reached the spot and launched an investigation into the case. Effort is on for a compromise between both the parties.
“We will agree with the decision taken by police after discussion with both the parties,” said Pradeep Mohanty, Secretary of Odisha Cabs Owners’ Association.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)