NONGPOH, Aug 13: A wave of arson attacks has struck the town of Nongpoh, with more than 10 shops falling victim to mysterious fires this year alone. The latest incident occurred in wee hours of Sunday, when unidentified miscreants attempted to set ablaze a pharmacy at Pahamsyiem, using petrol as their weapon of choice. However, their nefarious plan was thwarted by the formidable strength of the pharmacy’s shutter.
Owned by Muneshwar Singh, the pharmacy became the target of this arson attempt. Joined by the Headman and Rangbah Dong, Singh wasted no time and promptly lodged an FIR with the Nongpoh police station on Sunday.
In a statement to the media, Singh recounted the harrowing event. He revealed that he had left his establishment at 8:30 pm on Saturday, only to be greeted the next day by a shocking scene of devastation.
Singh’s staff discovered a plastic bottle containing petrol, along with cloth soaked in the flammable liquid. The shop’s shutter bore scorch marks from the unsuccessful attempt, serving as a testament to the quick-thinking installation that thwarted a potential disaster.
“I am at a loss as to who could be responsible for this heinous act,” Singh expressed with a mix of frustration and concern. “I implore the perpetrators to cease their actions, and with the FIR now filed, I have faith that the police will fulfill their duty.”
A neighbouring shopkeeper, Rohan, shared his own perspective on the incident. Recalling his departure from his shop at around 10-10:30 pm on Saturday, Rohan claimed that there was no presence of any individuals or vehicles near the targeted pharmacy at that time. He painted a vivid picture of the possible ramifications, should an attack of this nature be successful.
“If the flames had engulfed the pharmacy and reached my shop, the nearby gas cylinder could have led to a catastrophic explosion,” Rohan stated.
“The resulting inferno could have razed neighbouring establishments, including my shop, and the adjacent garage and vehicles would have been in grave danger. I earnestly beseech those responsible for these actions to reconsider their course, for the potential consequences are too dire to fathom,” he said.
Residents of Nongpoh remain on edge as these inexplicable arson attacks continue to threaten local businesses.
With a collective plea for an end to the destructive acts, the town’s residents can only hope that justice will be served and that their livelihoods will be safeguarded from further harm.
