Petrol bombs hurled at Tasmac shop in Salem, probe on

Salem: Tension gripped Salem city late on Saturday night after unidentified miscreants hurled bottles filled with petrol at a Tasmac liquor outlet near Gorimedu on the Yercaud Main Road.

Police said two men arrived on a motorcycle and threw three bottles with petrol- two targeting the Tasmac shop and one at a nearby establishment, before fleeing the scene. “One of the bottles hit the iron grill in front of the shop, and ignited liquor bottles stacked near the entrance. Flames quickly spread, damaging several bottles and causing panic in the vicinity,” said an officer with Kannankurichi police. He added that Tasmac staff had downed the shutters and were inside tallying the day’s sales, when the incident took place.

Kannankurichi police who were alerted, reached the spot and launched a probe. As part of the initial investigation, officers are reviewing CCTV camera footage from the surrounding area to identify the culprits.

Authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported, but the attack sparked concern among residents and shopkeepers in the locality. Police sources said the motive behind the petrol bomb attack was yet to be established, and efforts were under way to trace the suspects.