Set ablaze for Rs 1,500, man pleads for life on busy road

Howrah: Ghusuri witnessed a grisly sight on Wednesday night when a man engulfed in flames ran along Jai Bibi Road and pleaded with bystanders for his life. The man, identified as Sukku Shau, was reportedly set on fire by a contractor after he asked the latter to repay the money he owed him. Shau is fighting for his life at the TL Jaiswal State General Hospital with 56% burns.
Though quite late, people in Ghusuri were wide awake on the eve of Eid with many busy installing lights and decorating the neighbourhood for Thursday's festivities.Stunned on sighting Shau in flames, locals rushed to his help and rescued him by pouring buckets of water on him. Cops from the Malipanchgora police station were informed and the victim was taken to hospital. While Shau fell unconscious in hospital, he did manage to make a statement to police on the way to hospital. Later on Thursday evening, Shau regained consciousness and gave another statement to police.
Shau, a waiter working for a catering agency, told police that the attacker — Surinder — had borrowed Rs 1,500 months ago and refused to pay back in spite of repeated reminders. When he kept insisting, Surinder allegedly threatened him.
On Wednesday evening, Surinder reportedly called him with a promise to repay. But when Shau met Surinder, the latter allegedly poured kerosene on him and set him on fire.
Police have charged Surinder with attempt to murder under section 307 IPC but he remained untraced till late Thursday evening.