Kupwara, Mar 14: In a major breakthrough, Police in Kupwara have arrested two persons for setting a building on fire in which a non-local resident was charred to death earlier this month.
A police official said that following the incident, a case was registered and during the course of investigation it came to fore that two individuals who were running a restaurant in the building intentionally set the building on fire to claim insurance.
He said that the two suspects who had taken refuge in Punjab were apprehended and brought back to face the consequences of their actions. “During interrogation, the duo admitted their involvement and confessed to setting the building ablaze to claim insurance,” he added.
It may be recalled that during the incident, Muhammad Feroz Alam, an embroiderer from Bihar who was residing on the third storey of the complex was charred to death.
Meanwhile Police in a statement said “On the intervening night of March 3rd and 4th, 2024, a tragic fire incident occurred in Battergam, Kupwara, where a commercial building owned by Sanaullah Mir, son of Mukhta Mir, resident of Battergam, was set ablaze. Regrettably, one individual, Mohammad Feroz Alam, son of Taimur Alam, resident of Charaya Bihar, lost his life in the incident”.
“In response, the Kupwara Police Station initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC). Subsequent inquiries uncovered that the fire was deliberately ignited by Abrar Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, resident of Battergam, and Zakir Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohammad Afzal Bhat, resident of Gulgam, ” reads the statement.
“Consequently, a case (FIR No. 54/2024) has been registered under sections 302, 436, 420, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Both accused individuals had fled from Jammu and Kashmir and sought refuge in Punjab. They were apprehended and brought back to Kupwara to face legal proceedings” It reads.
“During interrogation, the accused confessed that they set the building ablaze with the intention of fraudulently obtaining money from the insurance company”.
“Kupwara police team led by Inspector Ishaq SHO Kupwara under the supervision of DySP Hqrs Kupwara are on job to unravel the facts in the case” reads the Police statement.
“Authorities are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions. We urge the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security in the region” reads the statement further.