Srinagar: Shopkeepers have alleged that a conspiracy to evict Batmaloo complex shopkeepers was recorded on CCTV as six shops were burnt down by masked men in Srinagar.
The shopkeepers told the news agency Kashmir News Observer that on Monday night some masked men came there along with petrol cans in their hands and burned shops, reducing them to ashes. In the fire, six shops were damaged, they said.
“How can such an incident occur in Srinagar in broad daylight. This raises question on our security. We are requesting the authorities to investigate the matter and take action in this regard,” said the shopkeepers.
“We have also met with police officials, and they assured us that a thorough probe will be conducted. A formal FIR has also been lodged in this regard at the police station concerned.”
The shopkeepers said, “We are confident about the masked men because we have obtained vital clues from CCTV footage and we have also submitted the same to the police station”.
In this regard, an official from the fire and emergency department said that they received a fire call at 3:44 am, reporting that a three-storied commercial building in Batamaloo caught fire.
“Upon arrival, a firefighting operation was launched, and due to the meticulous efforts of firefighters, the fire was soon brought under control. In this regard, no loss of life or casualties were reported,” added the F&ES official.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by FPK staff and is published from a syndicated feed from KNO.)
