Man burnt for cigarette succumbs to injuries

A 45-year old shopkeeper, who was set on fire by a Class 10 student in Pataudi last Saturday, died on Thursday. According to the police, the shopkeeper, identified as Rajender Kumar, had refused to give cigarettes to the boy on credit. The boy came back with an inflammable material and set him
on fire.

"The boy was caught by other shopkeepers and handed over to the police. Meanwhile, Kumar was first rushed to a private hospital in Gurgaon," a senior police officer said.

"Later, he was shifted to the burns ward at the Safdarjung Hospital, where he died today (Thursday)," the police officer added.

Following his death, the market remained closed and shopkeepers also held a protest near Sadar Bazaar demanding R25 lakh as compensation for the family.

Kumar owned a grocery shop at Heli Mandi in Gurgaon. "On Saturday, the boy had come to purchase cigarettes on credit, but Kumar refused. The two entered into an argument after Kumar insisted on payment," the official said.

The boy left the shop enraged and came back with a can of petrol. He set the shop on fire while Kumar was still inside.

The police registered an FIR against the accused under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has now been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.