Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 12: A gang of miscreants, who placed demand for payment of hafta (protection money), got agitated after the brother of the restaurant owner refused to give in to their demand. Apart from assaulting the brother of the restaurant owner, they vandalized the restaurant located at Kadri Mallikatte in the city late night on Wednesday.

The restaurant, Diner's Paradise, located in front of City Hospital and owned by Waheed, faced the wrath of the gang members, who broke window glasses, tables, chairs, and computer belonging to the restaurant.

The policemen from the city crime branch, who were alerted about the incident the same night, have succeeded in arresting seven persons.

A person named Santoshraj, who had visited this restaurant along with two of his associates, had consumed food in the restaurant and returned without paying the bill. When the brother of the restaurant owner asked him to pay the bill, he said that he will pay the bill only after the restaurant owner pays up protection money as demanded by his boss, whom he referred as 'Anna'. Within three days thereafter, he again came to the restaurant, had food, and objected to pay the bill when it was presented to him. But the brother of the restaurant owner stuck to his demand for payment of the bill. The accused then paid the bill, and threatened to follow the instructions of 'Anna' if the restaurant owner does not cough up the protection money.

On Sunday, he came to this restaurant with six others. He was seen repeatedly removing a knife from his pocket and wiping it when in the restaurant. When he was asked to pay the bill at the end, Santoshraj reportedly brandished his knife and said the 'Anna' had asked him to kill the concerned. As the restaurant owner had informed the police in advance, some police personnel were deputed to the restaurant. But the accused escaped when the policemen barged into the restaurant.

Late night on Wednesday, the accused came in with helmet in his head, assaulted the brother of the restaurant owner, and escaped after vandalizing the restaurant, it is learnt. The policemen hunted down the miscreants and arrested Santoshraj and his accomplices, it is gathered.