Miscreants set afire roadside vend of woman motor mechanic in Ghaziabad

Police said the woman, identified by her first name as Poonam, became a motor mechanic after her husband Rajesh Kumar suffered a paralysis in 2018 and had to leave his job as a mechanic

Some unidentified miscreants burnt down a roadside kiosk of a 28-year-old woman mechanic near Bonjha on the Delhi Meerut Road late Tuesday night, police said on Wednesday, adding that a case has been registered in the matter and further investigation is underway.

The woman along with her two daughters was in tears at the incident site when they reached early morning. The family lives in a rented house at Bonjha. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Police said the woman, identified by her first name as Poonam, became a motor mechanic after her husband Rajesh Kumar suffered a paralysis in 2018 and had to leave his job as a mechanic at a showroom in Ghaziabad.

The couple put up a roadside kiosk during the pandemic in 2020 and it was helping them meet the family expenses and look after their two daughters aged 7 and 4 years. The couple hails from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh and moved to Ghaziabad about nine years ago in search of a livelihood.

“Around 6am on Wednesday, someone called me up and said there was a fire at our shop. When I reached there, some of the mechanical tools were missing and the vend was charred. The shop was our only means to sustain ourselves. I have given a police complaint in this regard,” Poonam said.

She said Rajesh has not recovered from his ailment and in 2020, Poonam decided to replace him as a mechanic.

“Ever since, he had been guiding me how to repair two-wheelers and I am following his instructions. Now, I have learnt a lot about the repair job. However, the fire incident has shattered us. My daughters are studying and had exams on Wednesday but they could not appear for them,” Poonam said.

The woman along with her two daughters was in tears at the incident site when they reached early morning. The family lives in a rented house at Bonjha.

The police have sent teams to the incident site for an inspection.

“We have received her complaint and a proper FIR will be registered against unidentified persons. We will expedite the investigation and ensure that the culprits get caught. Our teams have visited and inspected the site,” said Nipun Agarwal, deputy commissioner of police (city).