Dimapur, November 5: A good Samaritan gesture was witnessed in Dimapur on Thursday as an autorickshaw driver, Pawan Kumar, returned a lost wallet containing cash and important identity documents to its rightful owner, an officer of the Forest Department.
Speaking to the media, Kumar said that while carrying out his daily work at around 2 pm, he came across a wallet lying on the road near East Police Station. Upon picking it up, he found cash and several important identity documents inside. He subsequently made efforts to trace the owner and handed over the wallet at the office of the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Driver’s Union.
Kumar also urged fellow auto drivers to return any belongings left behind by passengers rather than keeping them for themselves.Although the owner did not disclose the exact amount of cash in the wallet, he informed the union president that the entire amount was intact, with nothing missing.
As a token of appreciation, the owner rewarded Kumar with Rs. 1,000 for his honesty and integrity.The union president, while appreciating the driver’s gesture, said that such incidents occur frequently and stressed the importance of honesty and responsibility among autorickshaw drivers.
He urged drivers who find belongings left behind by passengers to report them to the union office or make efforts to return them to their rightful owners. He further informed that the union would take disciplinary action against drivers found keeping belongings left behind by passengers.
According to the union president, the wallet contained approximately Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 in cash, along with important identity documents. He also revealed that Kumar was scheduled to leave for Bihar the following day but chose to return the wallet rather than walk away with the money. In recognition of his good deed and to encourage others to follow his example, the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Driver’s Union felicitated Kumar with a certificate and an envelope.
With the festive season approaching and Dimapur serving as a major commercial hub, the union president also appealed to the public to remain cautious while travelling, particularly during shopping trips when the chances of misplacing belongings are higher. He advised passengers to remember the autorickshaw’s registration number or note down the driver’s name and contact details so that the vehicle and driver can be traced easily in case of lost belongings.
The union maintained that such acts of honesty should be encouraged and recognised, while calling upon both drivers and passengers to contribute towards building trust and responsibility in public transportation.
