Mechanic held for torching four two-wheelers of kin

PUNE: A 38-year-old auto radiator mechanic was arrested by

Khadak

police from

Lohiyanagar

on Thursday for setting four two-wheelers of his relative on fire.

Police suspect the incident was the fallout of a business rivalry. The suspect, identified as

Amjed Afzal Khan

, has been charged under section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Indian Penal Code. Khan’s relative Sabir Shaikh has lodged a complaint with police.

Shaikh told TOI that the fire broke out around 2.30 am, when he and his family members were fast asleep. “I had purchased a second-hand scooter about four days ago, which was completely burnt along with three more of my family’s two-wheelers,”

Shaikh

said. Police sub-inspector

Shrikant Temgire

told TOI that as the spot is located in a slum area, initially no one came forward to give information to the police. “We came to know that there were a few people near the spot, when the fire broke out. We brought them to the police station for questioning,”

Temgire

said.

Temgire said that during interrogation, one of the people revealed Khan’s name. “Khan admitted that he had set the vehicles on fire,” Temgire said.

Temgire said that Khan runs an auto radiator repairing shop near

Kunjirwadi

. He had trained the complainant, Shaikh, in his shop. “However, a few days ago Shaikh’s best friend had opened an auto radiator repairing shop near Khan’s shop due to which his business was affected,” Temgire said.

Temgire said that Khan suspected that Shaikh was behind the opening of the new shop. He asked Shaikh to tell his friend to shut the shop. “About four days ago, Shaikh purchased the second-hand scooter. For the past two days, Shaikh’s friend was using the scooter,” Temgire said. Temgire said that in a fit of rage Khan set the scooters on fire. “Our probe is on,” Temgire said.