Cloth merchant's burnt, chained body found in Kanpur

Lucknow, July 14 (IANS) A cloth merchant's burnt body was found chained Monday in his shop in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur city, police said.

The chained and burnt body of Lalit Maheshwari was found in his cloth outlet, Lalityam Sari Centre, at Roland Tower on Mall road when police and firemen were checking damages resulting from a fire in the shop Sunday night.

An official said he was shocked to find the body chained in the outlet. The cloth merchant left for his shop Sunday afternoon and did not return till late night. Later, his family panicked and informed police.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the shop. Fire tenders fought for over two hours to douse the fire. Police started their investigation early Monday.

They found the half-burnt body of Maheshwari, tied to iron chains in the shop, an official informed.

Officials said the body has been sent for autopsy and a team has started interrogating the staff of the shop.