Mangaluru : A 35-year-old autorickshaw driver was allegedly assaulted near Jeppinamogaru Arch in the city in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mohammed Shakri, 45, autorickshaw driver, was allegedly assaulted near the arch by two persons in a car who were reportedly angry over the former’s refusal to give way on the national highway, Kankanady police said.

They said that Mohammed Shakir, a resident of Alekala in Ullal, was returning home after dropping passengers at B.C. Road. Around midnight, a person in a car waved a tubelight at Mohammed Shakir while overtaking the autorickshaw. The end of the tubelight hit Mohammed Shakir’s left eye and he turned his vehicle towards Jeppinamogaru. The injured Mohammed Shakir was treated at a private hospital in Deralakatte.

The police said that Mohammed Shakir had a heated exchange of words with assailants near the Pumpwell Junction as the latter were angry with the former’s refusal to give way to them on the national highway.

The assailants, who were in an inebriated state, followed the autorickshaw and assaulted Mohammed Shakir. The police have now launched a search for the assailants.