Mumbai horror: Journalist physically attacked by another woman in Uber
What's the story
Journalist Ushnota Paul took to Twitter, a short while ago, to narrate her ordeal of being harassed by a female passenger in Uber, in broad daylight in Mumbai's Lower Parel. Paul tagged Uber in her tweets and said she has filed an FIR with Mumbai police. She asked the taxi aggregator to cooperate with authorities to nab the woman. Here's what has happened.
What happened
Woman abused journalist when she tried reasoning with her
In a series of tweets, Paul wrote the woman constantly complained about being dropped at the last, even though she 'paid' the most. When Paul tried reasoning with her about the route, she was abused. Paul wrote she couldn't even mention the words the woman used for her. To ignore her, the journalist started checking her phone. But the woman apparently continued her rant.
The horror
After abusing Paul, woman physically abused her
Later, the woman asked Paul to 'get her dirty things' off her. The journalist then put her bag aside. But things got extremely weird at Lower Parel when the woman hurled racial abuses at Paul. When Paul defended herself, the woman threatened her. Next, she physically assaulted the journalist, tore her hair and scratched her face. Paul said she felt helpless.
The aftermath
After Paul complained to Uber, they flagged 'security concerns'
Ushnota Paul wrote Uber didn't give her details about the woman, citing customer privacy. With the driver, a crying Paul visited Lower Parel police station. The officers calmed her down and wrote a complaint. She revealed she has a copy of the document. "This wasn't my fault. We, as women, should defend ourselves and stand up for what is right," she wrote.
Twitter Post
Here are Paul's tweets that will shock you
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
The steps
Uber assured of reviewing situation, Paul called for banning woman
After Paul's Twitter thread, Uber said it would get in touch with her through e-mail after reviewing the situation. To this, Ushnota Paul asked them to help Mumbai police in identifying the woman. Paul got support from Twitter users, who termed the incident horrendous and hoped for her well-being. Ushnota Paul does deserve lauds for not backing down.