5 drivers arrested for disruption in Andheri

In two separate cases on Friday afternoon, the Andheri police arrested five protesting Ola and Uber cab drivers for allegedly looting other drivers of cab aggregator firms who were plying on the roads, ignoring a strike called by a segment of drivers.

According to police, the five people arrested were Ola and Uber drivers who were on strike, and were trying to prevent other drivers from plying on city roads. In one case, two drivers stopped an Ola driver and took away his Global Positioning System (GPS).

In the second case, the protesting drivers took away the keys and Global Positioning System of an Uber driver, which is important for the company for tracking the vehicle's movement. Babasaheb Salunkhe, Police Inspector, Andheri police station said, "We have registered two cases under section 392 (robbery) and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code." Salunkhe added that the accused will be produced in court on Saturday.

A video that went viral on social media showed the striking drivers force the non-protesting drivers to go off the road. The drivers on strike were also seen snatching the GPS device from one of the vehicles. Ashok Dudhe, PRO for the Mumbai police department, said, "We were committed to ensure a safe, non-violent environment. We arrested five people for robbing the GPS devices from the vehicles."

"We will be keep a watch on notorious cab drivers involved in the protest. We will detain them if they are involved in any kind of violence or unlawful assembly during their strike," said Dudhe.