In a barbaric act, four persons set ablaze a shopkeeper selling cigarettes by sprinkling petrol on him in Srinagar on Monday. 

The shopkeeper Mohammad Shafi Teli suffered serious burn injuries, while his shop located in Chandpora locality of Habbakadal in the city was gutted in the incident, official sources said.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.

Shafi, who was admitted to SMHS hospital, said four unknown people came to his shop this morning and without any provocation set him on fire, after sprinkling petrol.

A caller introducing himself as a spokesman of hitherto unknown Hai-e-allal Fallah told NAFA, a local news agency, that its activists were responsible for the incident.

The shopkeeper, they alleged, was selling cigarettes laced with narcotics and that the primary aim of the outfit was to 'cleanse' the society of such 'evils'.

ALSO READ:
Women beheaded in J&K for not wearing burqua