Mentally ill man sets fire to worker's accommodation 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) A Bangladeshi man employed with Ahmed al Barwani Trading is reeling from shock after his accommodation in Amerat was destroyed in an act of arson on Monday night, reportedly by his sponsor's mentally unstable son. No injuries were reported as the house was not occupied when the incident occurred.Habib Rahman, a foreman with Ahmed al Barwani Trading, said that over the past few days he had faced frequent verbal abuse from the man, who is in his late 20s, and had moved out of the accommodation a day before it was set on fire. His colleagues who lived on the same premises too had vacated it earlier due to fear.''My sponsor's son would come to my accommodation often and abuse me verbally. I wouldn't react knowing his condition. On Sunday, he came with a knife and threatened to kill me. Fearing for my life, I decided to stay with my neighbours,'' Rahman said. ''On Monday night, I saw smoke billowing from where my accommodation is. On reaching there, I found that it was my house which was on fire. The man was also at the scene. I immediately called my colleague who informed the ROP.''Rahman said his sponsor is currently abroad and that it took firefighters nearly an hour to douse the blaze. ''All my belongings “ a refrigerator, two television sets, two air conditioners and mattresses “ have been gutted. I am left with nothing.''ROP officials at the site said that everything in two of the three-room house has been destroyed. ''Two fire engines had to be used. We are investigating how the man started the fire,'' an ROP official said. The accused, who was at the spot when the ROP officials arrived, is said to have resisted arrest.An Ahmed al Barwani Trading staff member said the accused has been taken to Al Masarrah Hospital in Amerat. ''The man is still in hospital for psychiatric treatment but under police custody.'' Now homeless, Rahman says he does not know whom to approach.