Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Mar 11: Unknown trouble mongers torched a provisions store owned by Abdul Aziz at Soorikumeru near Mani on national highway in the wee hours of Monday March 10. The entire shop with contents burnt down as a result.
Abdul was operating this shop, which deals with provisions, bakery items, newspapers and such other things, since the last 30 years. He used to sleep inside the shop at night. Sometime after midnight on Sunday, he woke up to the sound of fire spreading in his shop, and bursting of roof tiles. He ran out and raised an alarm, after which some neighbours rushed to the spot. They tried to douse fire by pouring water.
Information was conveyed to Bantwal fire brigade. Aziz was shell-shocked at this sudden misfortune that befell him, and had to be hospitalized.
It is learnt that Rs 8,000 in cash, provision items worth Rs 20,000, as well as clothes and other things totally worth Rs 70,000, were gutted in this fire. A petty shop belonging to fruits vendor, Hanif, which is located in front of Abdul's shop, was also set on fire. Actual loss in this case is yet to be ascertained. Reportedly, this incident has its roots to Kalladka disturbances.
A case relating to the incident was filed in Vittal police station.