Bengaluru man shares his horror story: 'Got death threats from auto drivers for booking cab service'

In a troubling incident that recently unfolded in Bengaluru, a local commuter found himself caught in a tense confrontation with aggressive auto-rickshaw drivers—all because he opted to book a bike taxi through a ride-hailing app. The individual later recounted the unsettling experience through a Reddit post, shedding light on the intimidation faced by regular citizens simply trying to navigate the city.

The Incident Begins: A Routine Ride Turns Alarming

After disembarking from a metro train, the man proceeded to the exit, intending to summon a two-wheeler cab via a mobile application. However, before he could complete the booking, an auto-rickshaw driver nearby took issue with his choice. In a confrontational tone, the driver barked, "Don’t book that! I’ll drop you; come with me!" The man, unwilling to engage, chose to disregard the unsolicited demand and finalized his booking through the app.

The Situation Escalates: Hostility In The Open

When the bike taxi arrived moments later, the man got on without further thought. But suddenly, a group of auto drivers began to shout threatening remarks, expressing disbelief and anger that he dared go with the bike taxi instead of their autos. Phrases like, "You’re going with him? I’ll deal with you!" filled the air, turning the environment hostile.

In a split-second decision, the man responded with a rude gesture—an act he would soon regret. That singular move ignited even more hostility.

Mob Intimidation: Surrounded And Threatened

Not long after the ride began, the same autorickshaw driver who had first confronted him overtook the bike, forced it to a halt, and began issuing direct threats. He claimed that he had merely been "teasing" the bike taxi rider and accused the passenger of overreacting.

Things quickly spiraled as more individuals joined in. Within minutes, around seven to eight autorickshaw drivers and a couple of men on scooters encircled him, adopting a threatening posture. The group hurled alarming threats such as:

"We’ll chop your hand off!"

"If we choose to, we can ruin your life!"

"You won’t be able to walk freely in this city again!"

"Even if you know the deputy commissioner or superintendent of police, it won’t matter—we’re locals, and we’ll unleash chaos!"

Seeking Help: A Call That Possibly Saved the Day

Fearing for his safety, the man quickly dialed 112—the emergency helpline. That call likely prevented the situation from deteriorating further. However, the police response was far from comforting.

When officers followed up, instead of focusing solely on the aggressive behavior of the mob, they criticized the man for making an obscene hand gesture—a detail he acknowledged was inappropriate but understandable under pressure. What shocked him further was the officer’s familiarity with the rowdy group and his casual instructions to let the man go—though he ended with a deeply disturbing comment: "Hit him and send him off."

Conclusion: A Disturbing Glimpse Into Local Law and Order

While the intervention from authorities may have technically rescued the individual, the overall handling of the situation raised serious concerns. The man concluded that dealing with auto drivers in the city is not just frustrating but can be downright dangerous. The experience left him shaken and questioning the reliability of law enforcement in such encounters.

Netizens React

Bangaloreans sympathised with the plight of the man. One wrote, "Your periodic reminder that autorickshaw guys in Bangalore are full-time goons on politicians' payroll and part-time auto drivers."

The Economic Times could not ascertain the veracity of the story.