COIMBATORE: The Sundarapuram police in the city on Monday arrested an autorickshaw driver on charges of threatening a shopkeeper over a Ganesh Chathurthi festival donation.According to police sources, the complainant, Mansoor Ali, 45, of GM Nagar in Ukkadam, has been running a bag and vehicle seat cover shop near Kamaraj Nagar bus stop on the Madukkarai Main Road.On Saturday night, R Uthayasuriyan, 35, of Indra Nagar near SIDCO, who is an autorickshaw driver at the nearby stand, reached Ali’s shop and demanded money, claiming that it was for the upcoming Ganesh Chathurthi festival. When Ali stated that he would pay later, Uthayasuriyan allegedly hurled abusive words and threatened him with dire consequences.Hearing the commotion, Ali’s friends intervened to question Uthayasuriyan. The auto driver threatened them and forcibly took Rs 500 from Ali. Before leaving, he demanded an additional Rs 2,000 and threatened to drive the shopkeepers out of the area if they failed to pay.
