HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI — A group of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members attacked a Kerala restaurant in Hyderabad on Friday evening, accusing it of serving beef and attempting to forcibly shut it down.
The incident took place at Joshyyettan’s Kerala Thattukada, a popular eatery located near the Osmania University campus and the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU). The restaurant, known among students and local residents for its Kerala-style cuisine, was targeted as part of what witnesses described as a “vigilante action.”
According to eyewitness accounts, members of the Hindutva groups entered the restaurant shouting slogans, ordered diners to leave, and declared that the establishment would not be allowed to operate because it served beef. “They barged in and started threatening the staff, saying no one can sell beef here,” said a student from EFLU who was present during the incident.
The restaurant reportedly offers traditional Kerala dishes such as beef dry fry and parotta — a combination deeply rooted in Kerala’s culinary culture and widely consumed by people of all communities in the state.
Following the disruption, police from the Osmania University station arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, preventing the confrontation from turning violent. Witnesses, however, claimed that the police response came only after repeated calls from customers and students.
Notably, beef consumption and sale are not banned in Telangana, and several restaurants and eateries across Hyderabad serve it openly. However, many mainstream establishments choose not to list beef items on their menus due to potential backlash from right-wing groups.
The attack has sparked concern among students and civil society members, who have condemned what they described as rising intolerance and moral policing in public spaces.
