Duo set a part of the slum ablaze to delay the BMC's demolition drive
Duo set a part of the slum ablaze to delay the BMC's demolition drive
No sooner had the Bandra fire been doused than 200 huts in Malwani caught fire leaving hundreds homeless on Saturday. However, in the latter case, the accused have been caught.
The police arrested Mohammad Ambani and Narangi Khatoon yesterday, thus putting an end to the rumour that the BMC was behind the incident.
Create mayhem
Ambani and Khatoon ran a business of building illegal huts in Malwani and then selling them or renting them out.
Soon after the duo got a notice from the BMC that the illegal structures in the area would be demolished on Saturday, they decided to set a small part of the slum on fire.
They wanted to create mayhem, hoping that the officials will delay their demolition plans in the face of impending emergency.
However, the fire soon got out of control causing the residents to panic and leave their homes.
Sabiya Ali, a resident from the slum, said, "When the BMC officials came, we asked them to give us some time to take our belongings. But suddenly, we saw a hut on fire and everyone started running away."
Senior inspector V Andhale said, "We had a number of complaints from the residents earlier against the two accused. On investigating, we found they were at the place before the fire started but later fled the scene. This confirmed our suspicion. During questioning, the duo confessed their crime and we arrested them. They will be produced in the court today."
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