Vada pav seller in Mumbai set on fire

When Ramratyani was set ablaze, his customers fled while his co-workers doused the fire and rushed him to a hospital

A 50-year-old man was set on fire for operating a vada pav shop at Ulhasnagar station on Monday.

Vithalvadi police inspect the spot where the owner of Mumbai Mahalaxmi Jumbo Vada bhaji pav centre was set alight. (HT photo)

The victim was identified as Chandarlal Ramratyani and was a resident of Ulhasnagar.

“When Ramratyani opened his shop in the morning, accused Suresh came with a bucket of kerosene and started abusing Ramratyani. All of a sudden Suresh doused him with the fuel and set him on fire,” said inspector A Choudhary from Vitthalwadi police station.

During investigation, the police found that Suresh used to run a vada pav stall at the exact spot where Ramratyani was currently running his,but he had to shut it down.

A police source said that a few months after shutting the stall when Ramratyani opened his vada pav stall on the spot, Suresh could not tolerate it. He had purportedly even asked Ramratyani to shut his stall as he wanted to reopen his at the same spot. But, Ramratyani refused so Suresh decided to kill him.

When Ramratyani was set ablaze, his customers fled while his co-workers doused the fire and rushed him to a hospital.

“Ramratyani was taken to a hospital and later shifted to National Burns Centre at Airoli,” said Choudhary. The police said that Ramratyani suffered 85% burn injuries and his condition was critical.

They have identified the alleged accused and have formed a team to trace and arrest him. He is a resident of Ulhasnagar and has been booked for murder.