Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Feb 23: With the intention to flare up communal tension, some miscreants torched two shops of minority community and also set afire two cars parked outside the shops in the main market at Mendhar town last mid night.
Official sources said some miscreants set on fire the Karyana shop of one Sham Gupta in the Main Bazaar near Hakeem Morh and Dak Bangalow and leaving five shops of other community , set on fire yet another shop of one Parveen Kumar Tandon, brother of former Sarpanch Devinder Kumar Tandon of Mendhar in the same market complex. Two Alto cars parked in front of the shops, presumed to be belonging to shop owners, were broken and then also set on fire by the miscreants while running away.
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It was later discovered that Alto car No. JK-12, 4379 belonged to Mohd Ayas Mirza and Alto K-10 JK12/ 9743 was owned by Mohd Zubair, son of Kabir, both residents of Gohlad.
While the car parked in front of the second shop of Tandon was partially burnt as the people got up and doused the fire while the miscreants escaped. It was damaged from the front and its wind screen was also smashed. The locals alleged that there was no police patrol in the entire market when the incident took place at around 2 am and demanded action.
Immediately after the incident, people woke up and the fire brigade was also rushed to the site but shop of Sham Gupta had already been completely burnt. The second shop was partially saved. But entire goods were destroyed.
Tension gripped the entire town in the morning after incident of targeting minority community shops in the town spread. The Administration imposed Section 144 CrPC. Additional policemen were also deployed in the town. One community shops were also closed down but reopened after joint meeting.
Later during the day, the SDM, Sahil Jandyal and SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyaar called the meeting of the prominent persons of both the communities and sought their help in maintaining peace and communal harmony. SD Sabha president Satish Sharma and Hindu Mahasabha leader Balram said that some people have tried to break the brotherhood and communal harmony in the town. They demanded that culprits should be arrested immediately. They also demanded compensation for the victims.
The fire victims told the Excelsior that they had no enemity with any one but selectively targeting two minority shops in this entire market, dominated by others seems to be some motive of the miscreants. They said that property worth over Rs 30 lakhs have been damaged in the incident.
SDPO, Mendhar, Padyaar said that a case has been registered in this connection and investigation started. He said the action against the cops officially on duty during night is also being initiated. Padyaar said some miscreants have torched the shops and vehicles and tried to engineer communal tension. CCTV footage is also being checked, the SDPO said.
DC Poonch, Rahul Yadav, however, when contacted said it seems to be normal incident. No body has blamed any one for it. However, matter is being investigated by police. He said there was no tension in the area and schools and markets were opened normally. DC said he along with SSP also visited the town in the evening and reviewed situation.
Meanwhile, former NC MLA Javed Rana has appealed the people to maintain communal harmony in the town.
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