Just 1 rupee for shoes (One-rupee shoe), and that too of premium quality! Such an advertisement led to chaos and a stampede-like situation. Police were forced to resort to lathi-charge. The incident occurred on Sunday in Kozhikode, Kerala.
According to police sources, a shoe store in Kozhikode, Kerala, ran a special promotion. The first 100 customers would get premium quality shoes for just 1 rupee. It was advertised and promoted everywhere that the first 100 people would get this offer as soon as the store opened. From social media to banners, the 1-rupee shoe advertisement had spread throughout Kozhikode.
Crowd spirals out of control
Seeing this advertisement and promotion, hundreds of people started crowding the shoe store. Not only from Kozhikode, but people also came from neighboring Wayanad district and several other places to buy shoes for 1 rupee.
Although this special offer was for 100 people, thousands of people gathered in front of the shoe store. As a result, traffic in the entire area came to a standstill. The shoe store owner had not made any advance arrangements to handle the excessive crowd.
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At least this is the allegation. Police said that from 2 AM on Saturday night, more than a hundred people started standing in line outside the shoe store. The line kept growing rapidly towards dawn, creating a stampede-like situation. Upon receiving information, police reached the spot. Police were forced to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Gradually, the situation came under control. Police have already arrested the shoe store owner.
