Bhubaneswar woman dragged out of auto-rickshaw, assaulted & kicked in public view

In a disturbing incident, a youth allegedly harassed a young woman inside an auto-rickshaw and then physically assaulted her in the middle of a road when she protested. The shocking event unfolded on Tuesday near Garage Chhak, a busy junction in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Odisha capital Bhubaneswar emerges as safest city for women in India: Report

Eyewitnesses expressed that the youth began misbehaving with the woman while travelling in the auto-rickshaw. When she raised her voice in protest, the situation escalated violently. The youth then dragged her out of the vehicle and physically assaulted her in full public view. Allegedly, he even pulled her to the ground and slapped and kicked her.

Even more concerning, the incident occurred in front of numerous bystanders, yet not a single person stepped in to help the victim woman or restrain the attacker. The incident occurred in broad daylight. Alleged inaction of the public has raised serious concerns about apathy and lack of civic responsibility in urban society.

Local police have yet to release an official statement on the untoward incident, and it remains unclear whether the youth has been identified and apprehended or not.

An FIR has been lodged in this connection, and a probe has been initiated. However, the statement of the young woman has not been recorded by the police yet. The auto-rickshaw driver is being interrogated to gather more information.

Worth mentioning, Bhubaneswar had recently made headlines as the safest city for women in India, according to the National Annual Report and Index 2025. Released by the National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, the report highlights the city’s growing reputation for safety and inclusivity for women.

Bhubaneswar has strengthened its public safety infrastructure with the installation of 1,500 AI-enabled CCTV cameras across strategic locations in the Capital City. This initiative, led by Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), aims to enhance security for women, children, and elderly persons, while also improving traffic monitoring and management.