A CCTV footage of the assault outside a Pizza Hut outlet in Hyderabad, India. SUPPLIED

A food delivery rider in India's Hyderabad was assaulted by staff at a Pizza Hut outlet after employees allegedly blamed him for a low customer rating on a food delivery app. The incident, which took place on Sunday (January 25), was captured on the restaurant’s CCTV cameras and has since triggered a police investigation, according to NDTV. In his complaint, the Zomato delivery rider said he had arrived at the outlet to collect an order when staff members confronted him about a poor rating recently received by the restaurant. The employees allegedly accused him of harming the outlet’s online reputation, even though customer ratings are submitted directly by diners. The rider told police that the confrontation began with mocking and verbal arguments before escalating into physical violence. Witnesses said several staff members attacked him, dragged him to the floor, and continued hitting him as he tried to protect himself. In his statement, the rider said he repeatedly tried to explain that delivery workers have no control over customer feedback, but his explanations were ignored as the assault continued. Police have since registered a case against the Pizza Hut staff involved on charges of assault and intimidation. Authorities are reviewing the CCTV footage and questioning those seen in the video. ICA/Expat Media
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