Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RJP)

Udupi, Sep 13: Kota police have managed to ascertain the identities of the culprits who set fire to a shop in Sasthan recently.

A shop named 'Mandara Fancy Store' belonging to Praveen Gundmi on Kodi Fisheries Road in Sasthan was set on fire on the wee hours of August 28. Traces of petrol were found on the tiles in front of the shop, giving rise to suspicions that it was a deliberate act. Police and the public suspected that it was an act committed by the persons belonging to another community as Praveen is the leader of a Hindu organisation. To make their doubts stronger a day before the incident, an argument between the group belonging to Praveen and to a group from another community had taken place which had ended in the police station.

But the police who investigated thoroughly have found out now that the group who set fire is not the same as suspected, but the group which belonged to the same community as that of Praveen. A young person who was a habitual thief was caught and warned by Praveen few days back when he tried to steal from Praveen’s shop. The young person conspired to set fire to Praveen’s shop on the particular day thinking that it would be taken as an act by other community as Praveen had an argument with them. The young culprit took the help of his friends and set fire to the shop using petrol. The accused even participated in the protest rally which condemned the setting of fire to the shop. Once the police established that he was responsible for the act, he disappeared from the town. Now the police are in the lookout for him.

Meanwhile Hindu organisations and people from Sasthan have congratulated the police for identifying the culprit. Police have promised that they would soon arrest the accused.