KOZHIKODE: Alleging immoral activities, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists ransacked a restaurant in the city on Thursday morning.
Police officials said that a 20-member group of Yuva Morcha workers, carrying BJP party flags and raising slogans, vandalised Down Town restaurant on P T Usha Road, around 11 am, alleging that the hotel authorities were making arrangements for youths to indulge in immoral activities inside the hotel. The agitators destroyed the glass window panes, doors, an LED television and other valuables, along with the seating arrangements near the parking area behind the hotel building. Earlier, a television channel had aired a report regarding the activities of students, along with visuals from the parking area of the hotel. Subsequently, a group of Yuva Morcha leaders, led by state secretary Prakash Babu, reached the spot and unleashed the violence, added the officials. The hotel staff downed the shutters of the restaurant immediately after the situation turned violent. As per the complaint filed by the owners of the restaurant, Vellayil police have registered a case.
The restaurant was one of the popular hangouts of NITC and IIMK students.
According to the complaint by the owners, a loss of `3 lakh has been estimated. A group of five persons, comprising Payyoli Maniyothuveettil Basil Moosa and his brother Bensil Moosa, are running the hotel.
At a press conference here after the incident, Basil Moosa denied the television report of immoral activities. Police officials said that they had identified the people involved in the attack and would take action immediately.