A video showing a heated altercation between a woman and an auto driver in Mirzapur has taken social media by storm, sparking widespread debate. The incident allegedly started over a fare dispute, but both parties have presented conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the clash.
The viral video shows the woman, identified as Priyanshi Pandey, dragging the auto driver, Vimlesh Kumar Shukla, from his seat while verbally abusing him. Despite the auto driver’s visible attempts to de-escalate the situation with folded hands, Pandey continued to thrash him.
How can UP Girls lag behind the Girls of Delhi and Rajasthan? This one is from Mirzapur in UP where the Ladki Hun Lad Sakti hun brand Girl assaulted the auto driver because he asked her to pay the fare. Lets recommend her name for next Bharat Ratna. pic.twitter.com/Xgw5s0Mn5N
— NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) January 14, 2025
Claims and Counterclaims
The auto driver, Vimlesh Kumar Shukla, filed a police complaint after the video gained traction online. According to him, the dispute began when he requested payment for the fare.
“When I dropped them and asked for the fare, they refused, claiming they were students,” Shukla stated. “When I insisted, one of them grabbed my collar and instructed her sister to record the incident on her phone. I then said I didn’t want the fare anymore. I didn’t even touch them.”
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Shukla further claimed that the video’s circulation has deeply affected him. “They made the video viral on Instagram and defamed me. I have been insulted to the point where I won’t even be able to beg. I must get justice,” he said, adding that he suffered chest injuries during the altercation.
On the other hand, Priyanshi Pandey alleged that the auto driver had used inappropriate language about her, which prompted her to react. “That’s why I thrashed him,” she said in a video statement posted on Instagram. Pandey also revealed that she has been receiving threat calls since the incident and decided to share the video to highlight her perspective.
Social Media Spotlight
The incident has garnered significant attention, with the video being widely shared across platforms. Pandey, who boasts over 28,000 Instagram followers and frequently posts reels and photos, including one with a gun, uploaded the video from her account, intensifying the online discourse.
Mirzapur police have registered a case and are conducting an investigation to ascertain the facts. “We are examining both accounts and the evidence to take appropriate action,” said a police official.
As the case unfolds, the viral nature of the video continues to fuel public opinions on the matter, highlighting the growing interplay between social media and justice in modern society.
