UP: Mob tries to set government officer on fire after he seals a shop selling adulterated diesel

Badaun: A mob of 150 people allegedly tried to set the District Supply Officer (DSO) and his team in Dehgava village on fire after he sealed a fair price shop selling adulterated diesel on Thursday. The mob reportedly tried to set the DSO, Neeraj Singh, and his driver, on fire by hurling kerosene, but they managed to escape. An FIR has been filed against 154 people, including 150 unidentified people, for the attack.

SDM Sahaswan Ram Araj Yadav said, "The mob was screaming for us to be set on fire alive. They poured kerosene on my car and me. They tried to burn me alive. I am lucky that I am alive." His driver too recalled the incident and said, "They beat us and when we tried to run away from there, around 100 people were running behind us. Police came and saved us. They tried to burn me alive. I am lucky that I am alive. They then poured kerosene on the DSO and tried to set him on fire but the match wouldn't light."

The incident took place on Thursday when on a tip off DSO Neeraj Singh raided fair price shop owner Girish Chandra's house and found him mixing kerosene with diesel. Finding this, the officer sealed the shop of Girish. While returning from there, he was surrounded by a mob including women, which tried to set him afire by sprinkling kerosene on him.

The officer managed to escape from the spot and informed senior officers about the incident. On his complaint, two FIRs - one against Girish under Essential Commodities Act and other against Girish, Manoj, Sandeep and Mayank and 150 others was lodged for allegedly attacking him. The police is trying to arrest the other accused, who are at large.

With Additional Inputs from PTI

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