A group of autodrivers assaulted a Delhi-based family on a visit to Kerala with iron rods when they refused to pay Rs 20 more than the metre rate for a short ride from Ernakulam North railway station to the KSRTC bus-station here.
The video grabs of the incident which occurred last month was released by the Kochi police on Tuesday in what may vindicate the general complaint of the aut-odrivers fleecing commuters.
“The incident was captured on one of the new 93 cameras fitted at different parts of the city as part of the new security initiative,” Central SI Ananth Lal said.
The video grabs show the accused gang beating the family from Delhi with an iron rod. They had hired the auto driven by one Surya, hailing from Tamil Nadu, from the North Railway station.
They paid Rs 60, the metre rate they were dr-opped at the KSRTC bus depot, But Surya demanded Rs 80 and an argument ensued.
Soon he took out an iron rod from below the backseat of the auto and assa-ulted Prem Malhotra, 43, his wife Raji Varghese, 41, and 17-year-old son Yatin Malhotra.
Four other autodrivers — Naushad, Ragh-avan, Rajesh and Salahud-din, from the nearby auto stand joined in the attack.