Cab drivers' protest blocks traffic near Kathipara junction in Chennai

Chennai: Taxi drivers attached to an app-based taxi service provider agitated before the firm’s office condemning the alleged abetment to suicide of their colleague on Saturday, here.

Muthukumar (27) of Sevvapet, a cab driver, attached to the private cab service provider had committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train, on Friday.

Knowing about the incident, irked taxi drivers attached to the firm took the issue to the road and protested before the firm’s Chennai branch office on Saturday morning.

Due to the sudden protest, vehicle movement affected near Kathipara junction, where the office of the firm is located. However, the St Thomas Mount police arrested more than 70 protesting drivers.

It is learnt that the police had confiscated Muthukumar’s car after an accident last week. While Muthukumar tried to pay penalty and get his car back, the police had allegedly harassed him, according to the protesting drivers.

The drivers also alleged that the police have acted at the behest of the private firm, as Muthukumar and the firm had a monetary dispute between them. The drivers also demanded to compensate Muthukumar’s family and return contract money paid by them to the cab service provider.