An unidentified group torched five shops at Bhatauliya bazaar of Ekdara rural municipality simultaneously on Monday night. Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Mahottari, Prakash Bista, said that the group set a tea shop of Ram Ekbal, eatery of Raj Kumari Shah, tea shop of Yogendra Sah, eatery of Sambhu Sah and tea shop of Mangal Sah on fire at around 9:00 pm.

Property worth more than Rs 500,000 was damaged in the incident. Different food stuffs, furniture, fridge, utensils, gas cylinder as well as other goods were destroyed by the fire. The unidentified group had torched the sops during night at a time when the shops were closed.