Kasaragod: A group of youths vandalised a restaurant in Trikaripur here on Wednesday night and attacked its employees, allegedly over a delay in serving food. One employee, Bittu Ali (26), a migrant worker from Alipurduar in West Bengal, sustained injuries in the incident.

Hotel owner K Shihabuddeen said the incident at Poggop restaurant began around 11 pm after the group ordered grilled chicken and mandi. The staff informed them that the food would take about 15 minutes to be prepared. “Within five minutes, they began creating a scene. Customers ran out after plates and glasses were thrown,” Shihabuddeen said.

According to the FIR, the group manhandled Bittu, assaulted him with sticks and stones, and hurled plates and glasses, damaging crockery inside the restaurant. The attack forced other diners to flee in panic. The hotel reportedly suffered losses estimated at ₹10,000.

Police said an FIR has been registered under Sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(3) (rioting while armed with a deadly weapon), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 324(2) (mischief), 190 (collective liability of unlawful assembly members) and 191(2) (rioting). Efforts are underway to trace the accused.