Kochi: The manager who threatened students with a knife following a dispute over a chicken shortage at a Chicking outlet has been dismissed. The company has confirmed that action was taken against Joshua, a resident of Mundamveli in Rameswaram.

Public outrage followed after visuals of the incident surfaced on social media. Protests were raised against Chicking soon after the footage began circulating. In response, the company moved to remove the manager from service.

Chicking stated that measures would be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur. Meanwhile, the Ernakulam Central Police registered a case against the manager and those who assaulted him during the incident.

The issue began when Plus One students complained to the manager that the sandwich served to them did not contain enough chicken. An argument broke out between the manager and the students at that moment. The students recorded the exchange on their mobile phones. The manager intervened and attempted to stop the recording.

Following this, the students contacted their siblings. The disagreement intensified after they arrived at the outlet. The manager then went into the kitchen and returned holding a knife. Others present at the scene managed to snatch the knife from his hand. The manager was later assaulted by the group.

No immediate response was taken by Chicking after the incident. This led to strong protests from the public. The company has now released an official statement addressing the matter.

An internal inquiry has been initiated into the incident, and cooperation with the ongoing investigation has been assured by the company. It was stated that any form of violence or misconduct is not tolerated.

The company said the safety of both customers and employees remains a top priority. The manager involved in the incident has been dismissed. It was also said that internal protocols and staff training are being reviewed and strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future.