In a shocking act of vengeance in Palamu’s Medininagar, a general store in Sua village’s Nirala Tola was set ablaze late Wednesday night simply because the shopkeeper refused to sell cigarettes. The fire devoured not just the store’s inventory but also wedding supplies worth lakhs, leaving owner Rajesh Kumar Gupta devastated.
Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene after locals alerted them. They battled the flames and brought the blaze under control, but the damage was extensive. Rajesh lodged a formal complaint at Sadar police station, accusing four youths—Ritik Singh, Chhotu Singh, and two others from a nearby area—of arson.
Recounting the harrowing night, Rajesh said the group arrived around midnight, banging aggressively on the shutter demanding cigarettes. When he explained they were out of stock, the men turned abusive, grabbed his collar, and threatened revenge before storming off. Mere moments later, flames erupted inside the shop-cum-residence.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. With his brother Chhotu Kumar Gupta’s wedding scheduled for March 11, Rajesh had stocked goods worth Rs 1.5 lakh and kept Rs 80,000 in cash. All perished in the fire, alongside store merchandise, totaling nearly Rs 10 lakh in losses. ‘My back is broken,’ Rajesh lamented, urging authorities for swift justice.
Local residents helped douse the fire, but the incident has sparked outrage in the community. Sadar police are investigating, promising strict action to prevent such brazen crimes. This episode underscores the urgent need for better night-time security in rural retail spots, where small business owners remain vulnerable to impulsive violence.