3 attack youth at shop for delay in handing over cigarette in Kerala

KOCHI: City police registered a case after a youth working at a tea shop was allegedly assaulted by a three-member gang on Sunday, as he did not sell them cigarettes fast enough.The youth was identified as Rinshad, a native of Palakkad. The shop owner, Sijo Joseph and another employee, Noufal, were also allegedly attacked. Police said the allegation was that two of the accused came to the shop around 3.45am on Sunday and asked for cigarettes. The victim was busy making juice for another customer. The delay triggered the accused to verbally abuse the employee. Around 4.30am, the duo, along with another person, returned and allegedly forced their way into the shop. They attacked those at the shop using sticks and stones, police said. According to police, the case was registered against three identifiable people. They were booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt using dangerous weapons, wrongful restraint, and mischief.