Drunken man sets stall on fire after being told to pay for cigarettes, shopkeeper critical

In a shocking and disturbing case, a 58-year-old man suffered nearly 80 percent burns after a drunken man allegedly set his cigarette kiosk (stall) on fire while the victim was sitting inside the shop in Gurugram's Haryana city. The incident happened on Saturday evening in IMT Manesar after a fight took place over outstanding payments of cigarettes.

According to Times Now News report, the injured man has been identified as Abdul, who is said to be in a critical condition. The local police suspect, a tempo driver who went to the victim's kiosk and asked for 'beedi'. The incident happened around 9 and 9:30 am on Friday at Baskushla Chowk in Sector 7.

After sometime, the suspect again asked for cigarettes but he refused to pay. This led to a heated argument between the two. Again on Saturday at around 5:30 pm, the unidentified temp driver returned to the kiosk asked for a cigarette again, Hindustan Times reported.

Meanwhile, Sub-inspector Tejpal, IMT-Manesar police station told HT that 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. He added, 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 while he was sitting inside. The victim sustained injuries on his face, leg and was immediately rushed to Rockland Hospital from where he has been referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Victim's son Mohammad Imtiaz told HT that the suspect had planned the attack beforehand and he carried a petrol bottle in his hand. However, the police have registered against a case against an 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 Indian Penal Code on Saturday at IMT Manesar police station.