Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Police on Monday suspended two officials and took two taxi drivers into custody following the viral video of a woman tourist being harassed by local taxi drivers in Munnar.

The arrested drivers have been identified as Vinayakan and Vijayakumar. The incident happened near the KSRTC bus stand in Munnar on October 30.

The video, shared by Janhvi, a Mumbai-based assistant professor, showed a group of taxi drivers confronting and intimidating her and her friends for booking an app-based cab instead of hiring a local taxi. The drivers, reportedly opposed to online cab services, allegedly told the tourists that they would not be allowed to travel unless they chose local vehicles.

Janhvi further alleged that when she sought help from the police, the officers failed to intervene and appeared to support the taxi union’s stance.

Following the uproar, the Kerala government assured strict action to prevent such incidents in the future and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of tourists visiting the state’s popular destinations.

"We were forced to take another vehicle and eventually cut short our trip out of fear," Janhvi said in the video, which has since been deleted but had already gone viral.

Following the public outcry, the Munnar police registered a suo motu case under Sections 126(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation.

The FIR did not initially name any accused, but police have since identified three taxi drivers, two of whom are in custody, with the third expected to be taken into custody soon.

State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas called the incident "unfortunate" and said it "should never have happened," adding that steps will be taken to strengthen police vigilance and prevent the harassment of tourists in the future.

The incident has reignited debate over the monopoly of local taxi unions in tourist destinations and the challenges faced by app-based cab services in Kerala. IANS