The group, led by a person with an extended prison report, demanded that the retailers swap to vegetarian-only menus, regardless of not being positioned on the designated Kanwar route and never falling underneath the federal government's official meat-sale restrictions.
Intimidation Over Menu Selections
The incident unfolded when over 100 males descended on two eating places — a KFC outlet and a Nazeer eatery — each positioned in Sector 11. In response to eyewitnesses, the group harassed workers and prospects, demanding that no non-vegetarian gadgets be served throughout the non secular yatra.
In response to the report, underneath strain, the KFC outlet complied and displayed a discover that learn “we're serving solely veg.”
Nikita Rana, supervisor of the KFC department, mentioned the outlet closed for a number of hours and resumed operations later within the day with a vegetarian-only menu. “It impacted enterprise considerably. KFC is understood for rooster, and greater than 70% of our footfall dropped,” she mentioned.
On the Nazeer outlet close by, supervisor Mahesh Kumar Bagel mentioned a crowd gathered exterior the restaurant, questioning workers over their menu. “We defined we weren't violating any guidelines, however they would not pay attention. We needed to shut down for over 5 hours,” he mentioned, including that no formal criticism was filed since there was no bodily hurt, although they'd think about it if harassment continued.
No Official Restriction, But Enterprise Disrupted
As per authorities directives, solely retailers promoting uncooked meat immediately alongside the Kanwar route are required to shut throughout the Yatra. Each KFC and Nazeer are positioned away from the official route and are usually not topic to those restrictions. Regardless of this, Bhupendra Tomar — often known as Pinky Choudhary — who leads the group, claimed they'd proceed to implement a vegetarian-only rule throughout the Yatra, providing eating places a “selection” to stay open in the event that they complied, TOI additional reported.
Tomar, 49, is not any stranger to controversy.
He has no less than 25 circumstances registered towards him throughout Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Delhi. From vandalising AAP's workplace in 2014 to being arrested for communal sloganeering at Jantar Mantar in 2021, Tomar has been repeatedly related to acts of intimidation and public dysfunction. Most just lately, in April, members of his outfit defaced a portrait at Ghaziabad railway station, mistaking Bahadur Shah Zafar for Aurangzeb.
Police Reply, FIR Registered
Although neither restaurant filed a criticism, police took suo motu cognisance of the incident. An FIR was registered at Indirapuram police station underneath Part 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience of public orders.
DCP Nimish Patil confirmed that police groups have been fashioned to establish and arrest these concerned.
“We responded instantly on Thursday. Site visitors was disrupted within the space as effectively. KFC has resumed common service, and we've assured them of police help if wanted,” Patil mentioned.
Clients who turned up on Friday anticipating to order from the same old menu expressed frustration. “Nobody ought to dictate what we eat,” mentioned Soumya Banerjee, a disillusioned buyer. “I respect non secular sentiments, however nobody has the appropriate to intervene in private decisions,” added Kunal Verma, a Vasundhara resident.
In the meantime, TOI sources in Ghaziabad police confirmed that whereas proceedings underneath the Goondas Act had beforehand been initiated towards Tomar, the method was not accomplished on account of protests by his supporters. Police Commissioner J Ravinder Goud mentioned motion towards Tomar shall be reviewed primarily based on his previous report.
