A man’s house was allegedly set ablaze in Pilibhit’s Devipura village after a dispute. The man and his family, who were inside the thatched hut were rescued before they got injured. Four persons allegedly torched the man’s house after a dispute.

The four men allegedly wanted to “burn alive” the victim and his family. The victim was identified as Mewa Ram. The 45-year-old man and his family were sleeping when the incident took place.

Mewa Ram alleged that on September 18, four men from his village destroyed his green fodder crop. Following which, he had a dispute with them. The men were identified as Chhote Lal, Mansa Ram, Tota Ram and Babu Ram.

The four men allegedly hurled abuses at Mewa Ram, thrashed him and even threatened to murder him. On Saturday night, the four men allegedly set Mewa Ram’s hut ablaze while he was inside.

When locals noticed the flames, they rushed to the 45-year-old man’s rescue and saved him along with his family members, The Times of India reported. While Mewa Ram and his family managed to escape, their belongings worth Rs 50,000 were lost to the fire.

SHO Harsh Vardhan Singh said that a case was registered against the accused after they were informed. He added that the accused were booked under section 436 (committing mischief by fire or any explosive substance, intending to cause the destruction of any building which is ordinarily used as a place of worship or as a human dwelling, 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees or over), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).