A 26-year-old waiter was shot dead allegedly by a customer following a quarrel with a group of diners who refused to pay for two additional chapatis they had ordered during the meal at a hotel in UP, police said today

Meerut: A 26-year-old waiter was shot dead allegedly by a customer following a quarrel with a group of diners who refused to pay for two additional chapatis they had ordered during the meal at a hotel here, police said today.

Ram Ratan Negi, employed with the hotel on Delhi-Meerut road, was shot dead yesterday. The incident took place when half a dozen youth came to have food at the hotel's restaurant, the district police spokesperson said.

The group paid their bill after the meal but dispute rose between the two parties over alleged non-payment of two chapatis. Negi, a resident of Lohagarh area of Garhwal in Uttarakhand, was shot dead on the spot by one of the youth in the tussle after which the group escaped, they said.

Hotel owner has lodged a case of murder against the absconding group. A person has been identified as Jitender. A search operation was launched to nab the culprits, police added.