An unidentified six-member rowdy gang attacked a ‘night’ hotel on the S V Patel Salai, ransacked it and injured its owner. The attack happened at a time when the administration and the police have been struggling to check the rowdies, who were issuing threats to businessmen seeking mamool.
According to sources, the gang approached the hotel owner Baskar around 5.30 pm and asked for tandoori chicken. The owner told them to wait for half-an-hour more as the food was being prepared since the hotel catered to the customers at night.
Baskar also asked them to pay money and then wait for the food. This provoked the gang members and they turned violent and ransacked the hotel by smashing the glasses of doors and the cupboard in which tandoori was kept. In the melee,Baskar was injured and he was rushed to the Government Hospital.
On receiving information, Grand Bazaar Police reached the spot. Congress MLA Lakshminarayanan also visited the hotel and enquired about the incident with the other members of the hotel and nearby shops.
Traders Federation leader Balou said Tuesday’s incident was another pointer to the fact that the government had failed to provide protection to the trading community. “The gang was in fact indirectly threatening the hotel owner with consequences,” he said.
Pointing to the traders bandh a few days ago to protest the rowdy menace, Balou said the administration and police had failed miserably to ensure protection to the traders.
Responsible people (police) were not given authority to act by the government, one of the traders who arrived at the hotel quipped.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress and AIADMK had slammed Rangasamy government for its failure to maintain law and order and curbing the rowdy menace in the Union Territory.