In a disturbing display of targeted malice in broad daylight, a madrasa student deliberately set fire to a Hindu-owned clothing showroom in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district. The accused, identified as Subhan, was swiftly apprehended and handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police after nearby CCTV footage exposed the calculated arson.
The incident took place on November 12, 2026, in the Mohalla Munnalal market area of Mawana town at ‘Krishna Saree Showroom’, owned by local trader Ajay Kumar Sharma. Had the shopkeeper and alert neighbors not intervened within seconds, the flames could have engulfed the entire showroom and gutted surrounding shops in the congested market.
Incident
Around 1:15 PM on November 12, Ajay Kumar Sharma was inside his showroom when garments hanging outside the entrance suddenly burst into flames.
Surveillance footage from an adjacent shop captured the entire sequence clearly. Walking past the showroom on a crowded street, the accused casually pulled out a lighter, ignited the shawls and dupattas displayed outside, and walked away without haste.
Seeing the flames shoot up toward the main stock inside, Ajay Kumar Sharma and nearby traders rushed to douse the fire. While Sharma suffered burn injuries to his hand while fighting the flames, their quick action prevented a massive inferno across the market.
Once the fire was extinguished, local traders reviewed the CCTV recording and identified the perpetrator. He was subsequently tracked down near Islamia Madrasa in Mawana and handed over to local law enforcement.
Mawana Police registered a formal case immediately upon receiving the complaint and video evidence. Circle Officer Pankaj Lalwania confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused, Subhan, based on the viral CCTV footage.
Mindset Behind Targeted Economic Sabotage
This was not an accidental spark or a reckless prank; CCTV footage shows a calm, unprovoked attempt to burn down a Hindu businessman’s livelihood in the middle of the afternoon. Had the showroom’s large textile stock caught fire, the financial ruin and risk to human life in Mohalla Munnalal would have been catastrophic.
The incident once again raises urgent questions about the radicalization and unchecked environment inside certain madrasas, where young minds are seemingly groomed with hostility toward neighboring communities. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance governance, Uttar Pradesh Police acted without delay, ensuring that CCTV accountability and strict legal enforcement leave no room for impunity.