Puttur:An argument over a document that was damaged while being photocopied and laminated escalated into a physical altercation at a digital service centre in Puttur's Darbe area on Friday, prompting police intervention and the registration of complaints from both sides. The incident occurred at the "Dream Destination Digital Seva Kendra", where three residents of Mandekolu in Sullia — Mubashir, Fathima and Mubashir — had gone to have documents photocopied and laminated. One of the documents was damaged due to what police described as a technical fault. The incident led to an argument between the three customers and the centre's owner Anjana Pai and her son Sudarshan Pai. The dispute later turned physical, police said.

As word spread, people gathered outside the establishment, following which personnel from the Puttur Town Police Station reached the spot. Police asked members of both sides to come to the station and submit their complaints.

Tensions, however, continued after police decided to take Sudarshan Pai to the station for questioning. Some of the people gathered at the spot allegedly prevented the police from taking him away, leading to a separate complaint for obstruction of official duty.

Police said complaints and counter-complaints relating to the altercation were being registered and that details would be disclosed after the cases were formally registered. The shop has CCTV cameras, and investigators will examine the recordings to establish what happened and determine further legal action. Police have also cautioned people against circulating unverified information or rumours about the incident, warning that appropriate legal action would be taken against those found deliberately spreading false information.