Promotion offering shoes for ₹1 leads to clash in Kozhikode, traders booked

A promotional shoe offer for ₹1 sparks clashes in Kozhikode, leading to police intervention and arrests of eight traders.

The police on Sunday (March 8, 2026) registered a case against eight suspected traders following a clash that broke out in front of a footwear shop in Kozhikode, Kerala, after a promotional offer promising shoes in exchange for ₹1 notes attracted a large crowd.

According to police sources, the incident occurred in front of a shop called Trend called Factory, which had advertised on social media that customers visiting the store could purchase shoes for ₹1. The announcement drew hundreds of buyers, many of them students and young people, to the shop premises from the early hours of the day.

The police said people began gathering outside the shop as early as 3 a.m.,. However, several people who arrived later alleged that the shoes had already been distributed before the advertised 10 a.m. time, which angered the crowd.

As the crowd swelled and tensions rose, a scuffle broke out near the shop. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and restore order. Traffic was also interrupted in the area following the incident.

The shop owners were taken into custody for further interrogation, along with a few others who were involved in the clash. Officials said they were examining whether the offer had been used as a misleading promotional tactic to draw the crowd.

A notice was later placed at the spot stating that the shop would remain closed for the day as the police continued efforts to disperse the remaining crowd gathered on the premises. There were even customers from neighbouring districts.