Chicken biryani dispute turns deadly as Ranchi customer shoots restaurant owner - Here's what happened

A Ranchi restaurant owner was allegedly shot dead by a customer who was served non-vegetarian biryani instead of the vegetarian dish that he had ordered, according to a report by the Indian Express.

The incident occurred on Saturday night after the unidentified customer who ordered vegetarian biryani and took the parcel home realised that he received chicken biryani, the report said, citing the police. After discovering that he had brought chicken biryani home, the customer called 50-year-old Vijay Nag, the restaurant owner, and argued with him on the phone.

How did the matter escalate?

The matter intensified after the phone call, as per officers cited in the report. By 11.30 PM, the furious customer went to the restaurant with three of his associates when Vijay Nag was having dinner there. Following a brief conversation, the issue escalated, which led to pushing and shoving between those involved.

“In the middle of the scuffle, the customer pulled out a gun and shot Vijay in the chest before fleeing the scene,” the report quoted an officer as saying.

People rushed to the location after hearing the gunshot, only to discover Vijay lying on the floor. The accused allegedly fled the spot in their car.

The restaurant owner was quickly rushed to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where doctors declared him dead.

The police officials from Kanke police station went to the location of the crime and barricaded the area to catch the accused.

Was the biryani dispute the only reason?

Speaking on the incident, Kanke MLA and Congress leader Suresh Kumar Baitha was quoted in the report as saying, “It is said that four men came at night and ordered vegetarian food, but later found chicken bones in it, which escalated the matter. Suddenly, the customer pulled out his gun and fired at Vijay.”

However, Baitha asserted that the case may not be limited to serving chicken biryani and claimed that a property dispute could also be involved, as some people were allegedly eyeing Vijay’s property.

Meanwhile, Vijay's family members protested, demanding that the police arrest all the accused within 24 hours. They also threatened to launch a large-scale protest across the city. The police officers informed that they are assessing the CCTV footage to arrest the accused.