KOCHI: Online cab aggregator Uber should provide adequate compensation to Shafeeq, the driver, who was brutally attacked by three women passengers in the city recently, demanded Trade Union Council of India (TUCI) president T C Subramanian.While there is a hue and cry for women safety in the society, there is no law for protection of men, he told a press meet here on Monday. The three women walked free on the same day after assaulting the driver and granting them bail was pure injustice, said Subramanian.
Claiming Shafeeq was suffering from depression he said criminals need to punished irrespective of gender. The apathy of the authorities towards male victims is being misused by women harassers, alleged Subramanian.TUCI secretary Sukesh Babu said the Uber drivers are under tremendous pressure as the company has very rigid rules. He said even people who are booked in petty cases are not accepted by Uber and drivers can easily lose their job if they get involved in a court case.
Shafeeq said he didn’t provoke the passengers and in spite of booking a pool taxi (share taxi), they refused to travel with another passenger who had already boarded the vehicle. He said the three women abused and assaulted him in the public. Shafeek said the incident came as a shock for him and he was feeling embarrassed while facing the public and his own family members. He was admitted to the hospital as he suffered injuries in the attack.Subramanian said that apart from sending messages and paying a formal visit to the hospital, the company did not support Shafeeq. The meeting urged Uber to ensure safety of the drivers who work day and night.