Fire Breaks Out in Rajendranagar Shop Selling Firecrackers; Arson Suspected

HYDERABAD: In a suspected case of arson, or sabotage, a massive fire broke out in a shop selling firecrackers near Sun City, Rajendranagar, past Friday midnight. The blaze subsequently spread to a food court located adjacent to it and two other shops and gutted them as well.

Police said gas from a cooking gas cylinder exploded in the fire, and the sound alarmed residents nearby.

It was later stated that CCTV camera footage showed a person wearing a helmet lighting the fire. Police are investigating the footage.

Rajendranagar ACP B. Gangadhar told Deccan Chronicle that the fire broke out at about 2 am in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. “We could see a person wearing a helmet to hide his identity. We have registered a case and are probing to identify the person.”

No casualties were reported in the fire. Upon getting information of the fire, Rajendranagar police called four fire engines which reached the spot and doused the flames.

Ravikanth, the cracker shop vendor, said, "My shop has been gutted. I don't know the person who lit the fire. We demand that the police arrest him."