As DMK Men Held Vigil For Karunanidhi, 2 Went On Rampage At Biryani Shop

A couple of DMK workers are on the run after thrashing several employees at a Chennai eatery who refused to serve biryani after closing time. In a video footage that was widely circulated, the men are seen letting loose punches left and right as the employees try to pull them away. The police are on the lookout for the men.

The attack at the restaurant in Chennai's Virugambakkam took place late on Sunday evening, when thousands of DMK workers were gathered outside the Kauvery hospital as party patriarch M Karunanidhi's health took a turn for worse. The workers had refused to go even when Mr Karunanidhi's vitals improved. They stayed, disregarding appeals from party leaders and application of force by the police.

At the RR Anbu Biryani hotel, Virugambakkam, 10 km away from the hospital, the staff said the group had demanded that they be served food. When told the kitchen had closed, they got angry and started assaulting some of the workers.

A senior police official said the accused, Yuvaraj, was a DMK member and a case has been registered against him and some of his accomplices.

The DMK has suspended two workers. Its working president MK Stalin said the actions of the two men were "strongly condemnable" and warned such indiscipline will not be tolerated.

"Strong action will be taken against anyone bringing disrepute to the party," he said in a tweet.

DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan announced the "suspension" of Yuvaraj and another person, Divakar, for "violating party discipline and "bringing disrepute" to it. They were being suspended from the party's primary membership, he said in a statement.

A source close to party's working president MK Stalin said "they will be ultimately expelled after following due process".

With inputs from PTI