A dispute over pending dues of Rs 35 for cigarettes leads man to pour petrol over friend’s uncle and set him ablaze; victim in hospital; Paan shopowner says his 44-year-old relative was attacked because he dared to intervene amid confrontation
A screengrab of CCTV footage of the incident. Pics/By Special Arrangement
A Jogeshwari resident, Nagendra Yadav, 22, has been arrested by the Amboli police for setting ablaze the uncle of his friend, a local paan shop owner, on January 10, after being refused a cigarette at the stall over pending dues amounting to Rs 35. The victim, Rajendra Yadav, 44, sustained serious burns to his back and has been admitted to Mallika Hospital in Jogeshwari. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the area.
According to the police, Rajendra is a resident of Feku Pehlwan Chawl on Bandivli Hill Road in Yadav Nagar, Jogeshwari West. The accused, Nagendra, resides in the same area and used to regularly purchase cigarettes from the paan shop run by Rajendra’s nephew, Pankaj.
The paan shop in Jogeshwari West run by victim Rajendra Yadav’s nephew, Pankaj Yadav (seated)
A police officer said, “Nagendra had consumed alcohol with a friend before visiting the paan shop on January 10, around 10.30 pm. The shop owner, Pankaj, refused to give him cigarettes due to pending dues, and a heated argument ensued.” Meanwhile, Rajendra intervened and instructed Nagendra to leave the spot immediately.
The officer said, “After being slighted, the accused returned to the spot in about 20 minutes with petrol and a matchbox. He started arguing with Rajendra, and when the latter turned his back, the accused poured petrol on him and set him on fire.” After this, the accused fled, while Rajendra was rushed to the hospital.
Rajendra Yadav, who was set afire at a paan shop, at Mallika Hospital in Jogeshwari. PIC/By Special Arrangement
Pankaj told mid-day, “I have been running this paan shop for many years. Nagendra used to drop by regularly. He was drunk when I refused to give him cigarettes unless he cleared his dues. My uncle tried to help me during our confrontation. Because of this, Nagendra took revenge on him.”
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