A fire at Shyam Sangini Textile Market in Surat, Gujarat, is being investigated as a suspected arson case. CCTV footage reportedly shows an unidentified man setting textile parcels on fire inside the market.
The fire broke out late on September 8 near Kumbharia crossroads in Saroli. Firefighters took nearly 50 hours to bring the blaze under control.
CCTV Footage Shows Suspected Arson
Police sources said CCTV footage showed a man entering the market at about 8:57 PM on September 8. He was carrying a shoulder bag and had a white handkerchief covering his face.
At around 12:20 AM, the man reportedly reached the sixth-floor passageway. Textile parcels were lying in the area.
According to the footage, he took a bottle-like object from his bag. He allegedly sprayed a flammable liquid on the textile parcels and set them on fire.
The man then reportedly left the area within four minutes. The fire later spread through the market.
A shop owner noticed the blaze at about 12:41 AM. The owner alerted the police control room through emergency number 112.
Fire Spreads Across Sixth Floor
A PCR van and fire brigade team reached the market after the alert. By then, the flames had spread from the passageway to shops numbered 601 to 617 on the sixth floor.
More than 150 firefighters took part in the operation. The fire was brought fully under control by the evening of September 9.
The blaze caused major damage to textile stock. Fire, smoke and water used during firefighting affected the goods.
Preliminary estimates put the value of destroyed textile stock at more than Rs 24 crore. The stock belonged to four major traders.
One firefighter was also injured during the operation.
Police Register Case
Surat Fire Officer Ranjit Singh said the investigation found CCTV footage showing a person spraying liquid on clothes before setting them on fire.
Following the incident, an ASI filed a complaint at Saroli Police Station in Surat City. Police registered a case against an unidentified suspect under Section 326(g) and Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as stated in the complaint.
Police are now trying to identify the suspect. They are also tracing his movements before and after the fire.
Investigators are examining possible reasons behind the suspected arson. These include personal enmity, a business dispute or a wider conspiracy.
