Man arrested for setting fire to documents over delay in resurvey

70-year-old held for Amballoor village office incident

An official examining the documents that were set on fire at the Amballoor village office near Kochi on Monday.

The Mulanthuruthy police on Monday arrested a person for setting fire to documents inside Amballoor village office. The arrested was identified as Ravi, 70, of Kanjiramattam. The accused reportedly gave vent to his anger over the alleged delay in delivery of service related to resurvey of a property.

According to the police, he had walked into the office with a bottle of petrol around 9.45 a.m. shortly after the office was opened and the sweeper was engaged in cleaning the premises.

“He poured petrol on two tables in the office used by special village officers, set fire to it and walked out. The sweeper along with another employee who turned up around that time doused the fire,” said M.V. Arundev, Mulanthuruthy sub inspector.

Damage

Documents kept on the table and adjoining shelf were destroyed in the fire.

The police have called for a detailed inventory of the damage, including the files, caused by the fire.

The police have registered a case invoking IPC Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and Section 3 (mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Both are non-bailable charges.

Later in the day, the accused was produced before Piravom First Class Judicial Magistrate and remanded.