New Delhi: The Indian government has initiated a nationwide crackdown on a viral social media trend that involved individuals remotely disabling e-rickshaws using smartphone applications, prompting authorities to order the removal of the apps involved. The trend, popularly referred to online as “tirri control,” gained traction across social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and X after videos surfaced showing pranksters connecting to e-rickshaw batteries via Bluetooth and shutting down vehicles in the middle of roads. The incidents left drivers stranded, often unaware of what had caused their vehicles to suddenly stop functioning. Concerned over the serious safety implications and potential risks to passengers and motorists, authorities launched investigations into the applications and their misuse.
Investigations revealed that the primary application involved, BAT-BMS, was originally developed by China’s Shenzhen Grenergy Technology as a legitimate battery monitoring tool designed to monitor battery charge levels, voltage, and overall battery health. However, officials discovered that many low-cost e-rickshaws operating in India use Bluetooth-enabled lithium battery management systems that lack basic security protections such as passwords or authentication protocols. This vulnerability allowed unauthorized users within a short distance to connect to the battery system and activate the “discharge switch,” instantly cutting off power to the vehicle. Similar functionality was also found in another application, Epoch Li-ion. Several drivers reportedly suffered financial losses after being stranded, with some paying others to reactivate their batteries, while one elderly driver was reportedly forced to push his disabled e-rickshaw for several kilometres after it stopped functioning during a trip.
As public outrage mounted, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh confirmed that authorities had taken note of the issue and emphasized that disabling another person’s vehicle without consent constitutes an illegal act. The Delhi Transport Department and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology subsequently launched separate investigations into the applications’ security practices and regulatory compliance. In Madhya Pradesh, police in Ujjain detained a suspect accused of using the BAT-BMS application to disable e-rickshaws and upload videos of the incidents online. Following the government’s intervention, both BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion have been removed from major app platforms, including Google Play and Apple’s App Store. However, cybersecurity experts have warned that removing the applications alone may not eliminate the threat, as the underlying problem lies in the insecure battery hardware installed in thousands of e-rickshaws across India. Experts have called for stronger cybersecurity regulations and safety standards for connected devices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
