The hotel that was set afire by the mob. (Ramen Mondal)

Balurghat, Sept. 28: A mob protesting against the murder of a local youth last evening set a roadside eatery on fire at Haripara this morning.

Police said the murdered youth, Arnab Singh, 30, was a resident of Buniyadpur and he was the nephew of Moti Singh, the owner of a local weekly market. Arnab used to look after the market and collect fees from stall owners, the police said.

According to the police sources, Arnab went to Nayan Line Hotel at Haripara near Buniyadpur in South Dinajpur to consume alcohol. There, he had an argument with a taxi driver, Adhir Hajra, and both allegedly got involved in fisticuffs.

Adhir retreated after the fight, but only to return with some of his associates and started beating up Arnab. When Sanjit Saha and Bidyut Mondol, who were also in the eatery, took sides with Arnab, a clash ensued.

Arnab was hit on the head with iron rods and he died on the spot. The police said while Sanjit was taken to a local hospital in Rashidpur and released after first aid, Bidyut was referred to Malda District Hospital.

Enraged over his brother’s death, Bappa, led a group of people this morning to the eatery. The eatery was ransacked and set afire.

The mob later blocked traffic on Buniyadpur-Raiganj state highway from 8am to 11am. The blockade was lifted after the subdivisional police officer of Buniyadpur, Shanti Yonzen, reached the spot and assured the protesters that Arnab’s murderers would be rounded up.

“Adhir is my brother’s murderer and he should be hanged,” Bappa said while denying that he had any role in today’s violence.

The president of the traders’ association at Bumiyadpur, Ranjit Mondol, alleged that many eateries along the highways had become dens of criminals and demanded that the police get rid of them.

The sub-divisional police officer said the owner of the eatery, Parimal Das, had been arrested today. “We are looking for Adhir and others,” Yonzen said.