Rickshaw-bus face-off over passengers turns violent at Cidco chowk

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A fight for passengers at Vasantrao Naik (Cidco) Chowk on Saturday afternoon spiralled into vandalism, with rickshaw drivers and a private bus driver smashing each other’s vehicle windows.

Rickshaw drivers Sunil Jadhav of Hanumannagar and Ajay Pardeshi of Padegaon were waiting for fares when a Patil Transport bus (MH-20-EL-0764) stopped behind them and began boarding passengers. The drivers objected, sparking a heated argument. Eyewitnesses said the bus driver broke the rickshaw windows and hurled abuses. The rickshaw drivers retaliated by shattering the bus windows. The drivers lodged a complaint with Pundliknagar police inspector Ashok Bhandare, demanding strict action. Police reminded that private buses are barred from picking up passengers and have been penalised for similar violations in the past.