The daily dispute and minor clashes among the drivers of auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw (Tomtom) across Agartala has on Saturday turned into massive chaotic situation after hundreds of e-rickshaw drivers staged a road blockade at Astabal area protesting hooliganism and physical attacks on them by a section of auto-rickshaw drivers.

Since Saturday morning, aggrieved Tomtom drivers started gathering at Vivekananda stadium (Astabal ground) and at a time, they also blockaded the busiest Airport road, when one Tomtom driver was severely assaulted at GB Bazar area allegedly by some auto-rickshaw drivers.

Speaking with media persons, agitated Tomtom drivers alleged that whenever they tried to pick up some passengers from Radhanagar bus stand, GB Bazar or any other busiest spots of the city, unruly auto-rickshaw drivers forcefully stopped them to pick up passengers and abused them with racial slurs. Even on many occasions poor Tomtom drivers were assaulted by auto drivers.

On Saturday also, when a Tomtom driver picked up a passenger from GB Bazar, immediately some unruly auto drivers stopped and severally assaulted that Tomtom driver and they also ransacked his vehicle.

In protest of the regular physical assault and atrocities, hundreds of aggrieved Tomtom drivers including some women drivers staged demonstration at Astabal ground demanding immediate administrative steps to stop atrocities on them allegedly by auto-rickshaw drivers.

Later, a large number of police and security forces led by SDPO(Sadar) Debaprasad Roy rushed to the spot and they, after convincing agitated Tomtom drivers, cleared the road and resumed regular traffic movements.

Speaking with media persons, SDPO (Sadar) said that police have informed the issues to the Transport department authorities and tried to ease the situation.

Meanwhile, ongoing protest some leaders of e-rickshaw union had also rushed to the spot and they parked hundreds Tomtoms to Astabal ground and marched towards Transport department office to hand over all of their documents as they are unable to ply their Tomtoms in the roads due to hooliganism of auto drivers.

Official sources said that some leaders of the Tomtom union led by some BMS leaders met the top officials of the Transport department in a deputation and lodged their complaints demanding safety and security of all Tomtom drivers and protection of their rights to continue their passenger services.

Tomtom union leaders have also demanded separate stands and syndicates along Auto-rickshaw drivers in every motor stand of Agartala city. After assurances from Transport officials to resolve the matter with mutual discussions, agitated Tomtom drivers withdrew their demonstration.