An employee of a fuel station at Gandhipuram in Coimbatore was assaulted by two men after he refused to sell them loose petrol in a plastic bottle late on Tuesday.The police said that Praveen (28), an employee of a Hindustan Petroleum outlet on Dr. Nanjappa Road at Gandhipuram, suffered minor injuries.According to the police, two men came to the fuel station around 10 p.m. and asked for petrol in a plastic bottle. Mr. Praveen refused, citing restrictions.One of the men allegedly threatened the employee, claiming that his father was the elder brother of a Minister in the TVK-led government.Mr. Praveen sought treatment at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital around 10.30 p.m. A video of the assault was widely circulated on social media platforms.A statement issued on Wednesday (July 1) on behalf of Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V. Sampath Kumar said the government would take appropriate legal action against those who take the law into their own hands, disturbing public peace. The government would not make any compromise in maintaining law and order and suppressing anarchy, it said. The Kattur police registered a case against two persons in connection with the incident. Further investigation is under way. Published - July 01, 2026 06:47 pm IST