Told to pay for cigarettes, man sets kiosk on fire, owner critical

According to the police, the suspect, a tempo driver, went to the kiosk owned by the victim on Friday between 9 and 9.30pm at Baskushla Chowk in Sector 7 and asked for a ‘beedi’.

A 58-year-old man suffered almost 80% burns when a drunken man allegedly set his cigarette kiosk on fire while he was sitting in it. The incident took place on Saturday evening in IMT Manesar after a fight over outstanding payment for cigarettes, police said.

A 58-year-old man suffered almost 80% burns when a drunken man allegedly set his cigarette kiosk on fire while he was sitting in it. The incident took place on Saturday evening in IMT Manesar after a fight over outstanding payment for cigarettes (Reuters)

The condition of the injured man, identified as Abdul, is reported to be critical, the police said.

According to the police, the suspect, a tempo driver, went to the kiosk owned by the victim on Friday between 9 and 9.30pm at Baskushla Chowk in Sector 7 and asked for a ‘beedi’.

After some time, the suspect, who is yet to be identified, asked for two more cigarettes, but refused to pay leading to a heated exchange of words.

The police said the tempo driver returned to the kiosk, which is close to a tempo stand, on Saturday at 5.30pm and again asked for a cigarette.

“When Abdul asked the suspect to clear his debt for two cigarettes and a beedi, he started arguing and tried to steal money from the cash box. Before the victim could react to the sudden attack, the suspect started throwing petrol from a bottle he was carrying and set Abdul’s kiosk on fire,” sub-inspector Tejpal, IMT-Manesar police station, said.

The victim sustained burn injuries to his face, arms and legs and was rushed to Rockland Hospital, from where he was referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

The victim’s son, Mohammad Imtiaz, said the suspected tempo driver was in an inebriated condition and had planned the attack as he was carrying a petrol bottle with him on Saturday.

“The night before, when he was abusing my father and refusing to pay for the cigarettes, my father did not indulge him and kept quiet. He then went across the street and asked a fruit vendor to give him bananas for free. He got into an altercation and was slapped twice by the vendor, following which he left,” Imtiaz said.

On Saturday, Imtiaz said an hour after his father opened his shop, the accused man created a ruckus and after trying to steal from the cash box, threw petrol on the kiosk and set it on fire.

“My father was engulfed in flames due to the combustible items in the kiosk. We put out the fire with help from neighbours and rushed him to a private hospital in Manesar. Later, he was referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. The doctors told us that he has suffered 80% burns and is critical,” said Imtiaz, who works with a private company.

A case was registered against unidentified accused under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 336 (act endangering life) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the IPC on Saturday at IMT Manesar police station. Sub-inspector Tejpal said that the police would consider the opinion of doctors treating Abdul before adding IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) to the FIR.