India, Jan. 4 -- At least seven suspects were booked for allegedly brutally assaulting a roadside eatery owner and his employee with a brass tea pan in Palam Vihar after he refused to provide free cigarettes, parathas and tea ahead of other customers, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place between 12.15 am and 12.30 am on Friday near Rezang La Chowk, where Ram Mishra, 38, was attending to customers at his stall. Police said one suspect arrived in a Toyota Etios and asked Mishra to fetch cigarettes, parathas and tea.

Investigators said Mishra asked the suspect to wait for a few minutes as he was serving two other customers. This reportedly angered the suspect, who threatened Mishra, claiming he was a local and that Mishra would...