Northeast Woman Alleges Abuse, Assault by Uber Auto Driver in Bengaluru

A woman from Northeast India shared a harrowing account of alleged verbal and physical abuse by an Uber auto driver in Bengaluru, highlighting persistent regional discrimination and safety concerns for migrants in the city's diverse urban landscape. In a video posted on Instagram on October 7, Enn Bii detailed the confrontation that unfolded on October 2 near her residence, claiming the driver, identified as Pavan HS, demanded payment after she cancelled a ride due to his no-show, then escalated to threats and attempts to strike her. The incident, captured amid rising tensions over language and identity, has reignited debates on inclusivity in India's tech hub, where Northeast populations—estimated at over 50,000—often face bias rooted in stereotypes and cultural misunderstandings.

According to Bii's narrative, the trouble began when her Uber auto booking showed as "arrived" on the app, but no vehicle materialized, forcing her to cancel and hail another amid a time crunch. Moments later, Pavan arrived, blocked her path, and insisted on compensation, hurling abuses in Kannada—a language Bii repeatedly said she did not understand. The video, viewed over 100,000 times, shows the driver persisting in Kannada despite her pleas to switch to Hindi or English, culminating in him allegedly attempting to hit her while filming her in retaliation.

"He's abusing me like this because I'm from the Northeast," Bii is heard saying, her voice trembling as she recites the auto's registration number for evidence. "We are not even safe in our own country," she captioned the post, echoing sentiments shared by many from the region who migrate southward for education and jobs but encounter xenophobia.

Bengaluru City Police responded swiftly to the viral clip, reaching out via social media for the incident's exact location and Bii's contact details to initiate a formal probe. Authorities have registered a preliminary complaint under sections for assault and intimidation, with commitments to interrogate the driver and review CCTV footage from nearby areas.

Uber, the ride-hailing giant operating over 1 million autos in Karnataka, issued a public apology, stating, "This behavior is extremely concerning, and we're so sorry this happened." The company has escalated the matter to its specialized grievance team, suspending Pavan's account pending investigation and offering Bii support for counseling and legal aid. Uber emphasized its zero-tolerance policy on discrimination, noting mandatory training for drivers on sensitivity toward regional diversity since a 2023 policy update.

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This episode underscores deeper systemic issues in Bengaluru, a melting pot attracting 12 million migrants annually, yet plagued by sporadic hate incidents—over 200 anti-Northeast bias cases reported in 2024, per local NGOs like the Northeast Helpline. Advocacy groups such as the Northeast Students' Union have called for mandatory Kannada exemptions in service sectors and stricter app-based vetting, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's administration pledged enhanced patrols in migrant-heavy zones like Koramangala.

As Bii awaits justice, her story serves as a stark reminder of the fragile safety net for India's Northeast diaspora, urging platforms and policymakers to bridge cultural divides before isolated altercations erode social cohesion in one of the nation's most cosmopolitan cities.

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