Coimbatore: Two men have been booked for attempting to murder a 63-year-old grocery shop owner by setting his shop on Sivananda Colony on fire. The duo turned violent when the shop owner refused to sell them cigarettes after business hours,
police sources said.
The victim was identified as A Syed Alavi of Gandhi Nagar at Sivananda Colony. “He used to sleep inside the shop at night. As usual, after closing the shop and having dinner, he was resting there on Wednesday night when Vikcy and Surya from Gandhi Nagar at Sivananda Colony came there, asking for cigarettes. When Syed Alavi told them that the shop is closed, the duo got angry and shouted at him before leaving,” a police officer said.
The shop owner woke up around 11.30pm sensing smoke. “Fire had spread on the entrance of the shop. He came out of the shop by breaking the thatched roof and alerted the locals, who came to his assistance,” the officer told TOI.
Local residents rescued Syed Alavi, who had suffered burn injuries. He was admitted in the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. The shop was gutted in the fire, police sources said.
Based on Syed Alavi’s complaint, Rathinapuri police have registered a case against the duo under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house etc.,) of the Indian Penal Code and section 4 of TNPPDL act. Police have formed a special team to nab them.
Vicky and Surya are facing several robbery and burglary cases in the city police limits, sources added.
