One-rupee shoe offer goes wrong in Kozhikode; Lathi charge, arrest and more

KOZHIKODE: The first 100 people arrived with a one-rupee coin expecting to take back home shoes worth Rs 1000-2000. The next 100 people were promised watches worth Rs 2000. Thousands who arrived from 3 am to see the shoe shop's opening offer got a taste of the police 'lathi-charge'. The crowd went berserk, leaving the police with no option but to lathi-charge. Several people were injured. The shop owners were taken into custody.

The shop owners, T. Jamsheer (20), N.P. Muhammed Munsif (22), P. Muhammed Safwan (21), T.K. Muhammed Farshad (24), Asif Shaheer (22), P. Muhammed Shaheer (22) and Muhammed Shabib (26), natives of Malappuram, were taken into custody for putting up the offer without providing adequate security. They were later released on bail.

Students and youth from various places, including Mangalore, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Thrissur, came to avail the offer of the shoe shop 'Trend Factory' on Vaikom Muhammed Basheer Road in Mananchira. Some of them even arrived as early as Saturday night.

The offer included that the first 100 people would be given shoes at 10 am when the shop opens. The town police have also registered a case against 100 people who are known to have caused congestion and obstructed traffic. Meanwhile, some have alleged that shoes were distributed to those in need at 5:30 in the morning.