Chennai: Foreign Student Alleges Attempted Assault By Auto Driver, Calls City 'Unsafe'

Describing Chennai as unsafe, a foreign student claimed in a viral post that an auto-rickshaw driver attempted to rape her in broad daylight at a well-known location in the city and even threatened to throw her out of the vehicle afterwards.

"And the worst part? No one came to help. Not one person. Morning walkers passed us by like it was nothing. What kind of place turns a blind eye to a woman in danger? What kind of city allows autos with no number plates to operate freely? What kind of system lets this happen to someone who was invited to be here?" she questioned, sharing a brief video clip of the confrontation.

Photo Credit: PTI

In her Instagram post, she alleged that the incident occurred on Saturday morning while she and her friend were travelling by auto-rickshaw to Thiruvanmiyur beach.

The video opens with the auto driver saying, "You are my customer. Call me properly."

The woman responds, "Don't shout, stupid."

The driver, visibly enraged, says in Tamil, "If I get down, I will tear your private part. Who are you yelling at? I want my money, Rs 163. Give me."

The woman offers a Rs 200 note, asking for change.

The driver retorts, "I want Rs 163 only. I don't have change," prompting the woman to throw the money at him.

In a fit of anger, the driver alights from the auto-rickshaw and spits at her.

The woman and her friend then begin to walk away, but the driver throws the money back at them, shouts, and drives off. The video has since gone viral across social media platforms.

The woman has tagged the Chennai City Mayor, Greater Chennai Police, Rapido, and Chief Minister Stalin in her Instagram post to register her complaint. However, no formal complaint has been lodged with the police as of yet.