Young Man Set on Fire Over ₹250 Debt Dispute in Gwalior; Two Arrested

In a shocking incident that has rattled the Thateepur area of Gwalior, a young man was doused with petrol and set ablaze by three assailants, all over a petty loan dispute of just ₹250. The victim, who has suffered burns on approximately 60 per cent of his body, is currently hospitalised in a critical condition. Police have registered a case of attempted murder and arrested two of the three accused, while the third remains at large.

The victim is Akash, son of Ramchandra Sengar, a watchman employed at a tour and travel agency located in Mayur Market, New Premnagar (Hazira). Ramchandra would routinely keep extra petrol to help motorists in need after the nearby petrol pump shut for the night.

According to police, late Tuesday night around 11 pm, three men — Anuj alias Wali Gurjar, Sachin Gurjar, and Arvind Chhavai — arrived at the spot on a motorcycle. They took petrol worth ₹100 and handed over a ₹500 note. When Ramchandra deducted the previously outstanding ₹250 loan from the change, a heated argument broke out.

The dispute quickly turned violent. When the attackers began assaulting Ramchandra, his son Akash and a nearby ATM security guard rushed to intervene. The assailants reportedly attacked both with sticks. Akash fled inside the travel office to save himself, but the accused followed him, grabbed a petrol-filled bottle kept there, poured it over him, and set him alight with a lighter. All three fled the scene immediately after the attack.

What makes the incident even more alarming is its brazen nature. The scene of the crime is located just a short distance from the offices of the ASP and CSP, and despite a considerable number of people being present at the crossroads at the time, the accused carried out the attack without any apparent fear. Bystanders promptly alerted police and rushed the injured to a hospital.

Police have since arrested Wali alias Anuj Gurjar, 22, a resident of Thateepur, and Sachin Gurjar, 24, of New Jivaji Nagar. Both were taken to the crime scene on Wednesday evening for a public identification walk. The third accused, Arvind Chhavai, remains absconding.

Thateepur Station House Officer Vipendra Singh Chauhan confirmed that a case of attempted murder has been registered and interrogation of the arrested men is underway. Authorities are also examining the criminal backgrounds of all three accused.

The ATM guard who attempted to intervene also sustained injuries in the attack.