Tension gripped the Kalabuda Baruni Bazaar area under Kudangagari police station limits in Kendrapara district after a vegetable shopkeeper was burnt alive in a fire late on Friday night. The blaze broke out under mysterious circumstances, gutting the shop and leaving the shopkeeper dead.

The deceased has been identified as Subas Mallik of Gobindapur village. He was running a vegetable shop at Kalabuda Baruni Bazaar, where the incident took place during the late-night hours.

Fire Breaks Out Late At Night

According to reports, the fire broke out when the shop was closed for the night. By the time locals noticed the blaze, both the shop and the shopkeeper were completely gutted. The cause of the fire wass yet to be officially ascertained at the time of reporting. Though initial suspicion included the possibility of a short circuit. 

However, the presence of raw vegetables among the burnt items led family members and locals to raise doubts over this theory.

Family Alleges Deliberate Act

Family members alleged that the shop was locked from the outside and claimed that someone may have deliberately set it on fire due to previous rivalry. They further alleged that a flammable substance might have been poured before the fire was ignited. Locals supported the family’s claims, questioning the circumstances under which the shop was found locked from outside.

Local Anger Over Delayed Response

Tension escalated as residents questioned how neither the police nor the Fire Department responded promptly, despite the police station being located nearly 200 metres from the site. The Fire Department was reportedly informed but did not reach the spot in time. When police later arrived, agitated locals initially prevented them from entering the scene, citing the delayed response. The police subsequently clarified that they did not receive an earlier complaint and reached the location after being informed.

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Police launched an investigation into the incident and questioned several individuals, including the person who first noticed the shop locked from outside and observed the fire through a window.