A minor street food disagreement in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior escalated into severe violence on Sunday evening, leaving a teenager hospitalized with traumatic burn injuries. The incident occurred in the Hazira police station jurisdiction at the Purani Resham Mill intersection, where an argument regarding portion sizes provoked a food cart operator into hurling searing hot cooking oil directly onto a young patron. The victim sustained critical burns across his facial region and ear before bystanders intervened to rush him to medical care.
Dispute Over Portion Sizes at Street Food Stall
The injured youth has been identified as 18-year-old Shiva alias Chetan Bhadauria, a resident of Resham Mill Pragati Nagar located within the Hazira precinct. On Sunday evening, Shiva stepped out alongside two companions, Golu Khan and Vikas Rajput, intending to grab an evening snack. The group stopped at a roadside stall named 'Ankit Momos' operating near the Purani Resham Mill crossing. Shiva paid an amount of 20 rupees to purchase a serving, receiving a plate containing 7 momos. Finding the quantity disproportionately small for the price paid, Shiva questioned the cart operator, Ankit, asking why so few pieces had been served.
Verbal Clash Escalates into Severe Burn Assault
The query regarding food quantity reportedly infuriated the vendor immediately, triggering an intense verbal exchange between both sides. According to allegations made in the complaint, Ankit hurled verbal abuses at Shiva and quickly resorted to physical shoving and assault. In the midst of the physical altercation, Ankit grabbed boiling oil directly from the frying pan positioned on the stall and threw it at Shiva. The scalding fluid struck Shiva directly across his face and ear, resulting in extensive burn injuries. Panic erupted across the busy crossing as the victim screamed in pain, prompting friends and witnesses to urgently transport him to a nearby hospital for immediate medical intervention.
Police Register Case and Launch Search for Vendor
Local law enforcement authorities initiated an investigation following the victim's medical admission. Robin Jain, CSP Headquarters Gwalior, confirmed that a criminal case has been officially registered against the cart operator Ankit following the formal complaint lodged by the injured student. Investigating officers noted that evidence is being gathered and efforts are actively underway to apprehend the accused vendor shortly. Street food stalls in the state had previously witnessed public friction, such as an incident in Bhopal where an altercation erupted at a momos cart when a husband encountered his wife accompanied by her boyfriend, resulting in an aggressive confrontation that went viral on digital platforms.
