A distraught Mohammed Mustafa gave an empty look as he saw several bunches of ripe banana in his petty shop had turned black and dozens of half burnt oranges were lying all over.
His was one of the 20 shops that were set fire to by some miscreants at Thokkottu in the early hours of Thursday.
“I heard about fire around 2.30 a.m. But I could not reach as there were orders prohibiting movement of people. I could only come around 5.30 a.m. But everything is burnt,” said Mr. Mushtafa, a resident of K.C. Road that had witnessed group clash around 10 p.m. on Wednesday night.
The incident of arson took place at Olapete near Thokkottu junction early on Thursday morning.
“We have been doing business here for over several years. I have good relationship with people of all communities. I do not know why my shop has been targeted,’ said Mr. Mustafa, who was struggling to put an estimate the loss.
These damaged 22 shops – each provided with space of 4 ft x 6 ft – are among row of shops that have come up on the place allotted by the Ullal Panchayat. Apart from shops selling vegetables and fruits, there are a few stalls selling fish and also a shoe and slippers shop.
For Elida Monterio it was hard to digest the damage to her vegetable shop, which has been the only source of earning. “I have been running this shop for over two decades without any problem,” she said. Ms. Monterio had locked her shop keeping a load of coconuts and other vegetables.
“The entire stock of about Rs. 3,000 is burnt,” she said as she removed a burnt wooden rack, a plastic stool and other material that have been charred. “For no fault I have to bear expenses for restoration of my shop,” she said. Each shopkeeper had a similar story to tell with worries writ large on their faces.
