In a suspected case of arson, a tea stall was reduced to ashes late Thursday night in Jagriti Vihar Extension, resulting in a significant financial loss for the operator. The incident came to light on Friday morning when the victim arrived to open his shop.
The Incident
The victim has been identified as Rajeev Kumar, son of Jagbir Singh, originally from Bulandshahr. He currently lives in a rented accommodation in Jagriti Extension and supports his family by running a stall selling tea, cigarettes, and snacks.
According to the victim, he had closed his stall as usual on Thursday night and returned home. Unidentified miscreants allegedly set fire to the structure around 1:30 am. Rajeev discovered the devastation when he reached the site the next morning, only to find everything burnt to the ground. A crowd of locals gathered at the spot soon after.
Significant Financial Loss
The fire destroyed the entire inventory and equipment inside the stall. The damaged items include tea supplies, biscuits, snacks (namkeen), beedis, cigarettes, a refrigerator, and a gas cylinder. Rajeev has estimated the total loss to be approximately Rs 300,000.
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Police Investigation Underway
Upon receiving the report, the local police arrived at the scene to conduct an inspection. Station House Officer (SHO) Satveer Singh Atri confirmed that the reported loss is estimated at ₹3 lakh.
SHO Atri stated, "Based on the victim's complaint, we are reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area. The culprits will be identified soon,".
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