A suspected cyber threat has emerged in Gwalior, where several e-rickshaw drivers claim their vehicles are being remotely switched off while in motion. Over the past few days, multiple incidents have been reported in which moving e-rickshaws suddenly stopped after their wheels locked or the battery system shut down. Authorities are investigating whether the incidents are caused by technical faults or unauthorized access to the Battery Management System (BMS) through mobile applications. Drivers file complaints with police On Thursday, a large number of e-rickshaw drivers approached the Superintendent of Police’s office to lodge complaints. They alleged that some individuals are using mobile applications to connect to the battery systems of their e-rickshaws and remotely disable the vehicles. According to the drivers, the suspects either follow the e-rickshaws or remain nearby before connecting to the battery system through Bluetooth. Once connected, the vehicle suddenly stops, forcing passengers to get off mid-journey and causing financial losses to drivers. Competition among operators also suspected Some drivers believe growing competition in the city’s e-rickshaw business could be one of the reasons behind the alleged incidents. Drivers Keshav Adivasi and Shahid Khan claimed that certain individuals may be disabling rival e-rickshaws to divert passengers to other vehicles. Bluetooth-enabled battery system may be vulnerable Experts say that most lithium-ion batteries used in e-rickshaws are equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS) featuring Bluetooth connectivity. If the system lacks adequate security or an unauthorized application gains access, it may be possible to interfere with battery functions within a limited range, potentially causing the vehicle to shut down unexpectedly. Police deploy cyber experts Senior Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh Yadav said police are trying to identify those allegedly using mobile applications to disable e-rickshaws. Cyber experts and local police teams have been assigned to trace the suspects. Officials said anyone found responsible will face legal action under cybercrime and other applicable laws. Drivers report growing number of incidents During interactions with local drivers, several said such incidents have become increasingly common. One driver claimed that around 15 cases had been reported in the Hazira area alone. Drivers said sudden vehicle shutdowns often force passengers to leave without paying fares, resulting in financial losses and creating the risk of road accidents. Driver Shahid said an acquaintance, Shahrukh, experienced a similar incident just two days ago when his e-rickshaw stopped unexpectedly while on the road. Dealer cites both technical issues and software vulnerability E-rickshaw dealer Vishnu said that while some cases could be due to technical faults, certain mobile applications are capable of accessing the battery’s on-off controls. He explained that the BMS software used in these batteries is developed by a Chinese company and operates through password-protected access. Weak passwords or inadequate security measures could increase the risk of misuse. According to Vishnu, around 50 complaints have been received so far. Several vehicles have been reset, and some customers have been issued new passwords. He added that the issue has been reported to the battery manufacturer and appears to affect only batteries from certain companies, while other brands have not reported similar problems. Post navigation ‘Judges cannot be threatened for their verdicts’:High Court seeks DGP report on threats to Muslim judge High Court questions delay in FIR against councillor:Seeks state report after Indore gas pipeline blast injured four people
