Jalalabad, Oct 9: Panic swept through Jalalabad town in Punjab’s Fazilka district after two unidentified men on a motorcycle set a clothing shop ablaze in the early hours of Thursday.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Railway Road, when the masked assailants allegedly sprinkled kerosene oil on the shop and set it on fire before fleeing the scene.
Within minutes, the flames engulfed the entire store, destroying all clothing material and goods inside. A night watchman nearby tried to chase the miscreants but was unable to catch them. The incident was captured on CCTV footage from a nearby camera, which police are now reviewing.
Firefighters were called to the spot, and the blaze was eventually brought under control. However, officials said the entire stock had already been reduced to ashes.
Om Parkash, a relative of the shop owner, said the shop had been built only a couple of years ago and that the family had invested their life savings into the business. “There was no enmity with anyone,” he said, adding that the cause of the incident remains unclear.
Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify the culprits. “We are analyzing multiple camera angles to trace the motorcycle and the route the suspects took after the fire,” a police officer said.
Municipal Council Jalalabad President Vikas Deep Chaudhary visited the site later in the day and expressed concern over the losses suffered by the trader. “The shopkeeper has lost his entire livelihood in this fire,” he said, urging authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and justice for the victims.
