New Delhi:
A mob protesting against alleged inaction in the death of an autorickshaw driver set a banquet hall and shops near the Delhi Metro's Karkardooma station on fire today.
(See pics)At least eight fire engines fought the flames, which began from the banquet hall near the station and spread to the shops nearby. A truck too was set on fire.
No deaths or injuries were reported.
The fire prompted Delhi Metro to briefly shut down the Karkardooma station. Train services between Yamuna Bank and Vaishali were stopped from 4.15 pm to 6.20 pm. When the services resumed, trains did not stop at Karkardooma for a while until the situation was brought under control.
The attack is thought to have been sparked off by a rumour that the police was refusing to register a case in the death of the autorickshaw driver, identified as 30-year-old Rakesh Kumar.
The police had, however, registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Mr Kumar was found dead near the Karkardooma courts around 2 am today.
The situation worsened when the post-mortem got delayed as several cases piled up at the designated hospital.
A crowd gathered near the court complex around 3 pm and began agitating. It soon moved towards the Metro station and attacked the banquet hall.
(With PTI inputs)