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Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 8 (EMN): A beauty salon located at MK Market in Razhu Point, Kohima was found vandalised on Monday, causing alarm among the business community who have been having a hard time due to imposition of lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Following the incident, the Salon Association Kohima on Tuesday condemned the vandalism and burglary of the Eklippz Hair and Beauty Salon and appealed to the competent authority to investigate into the matter and book the culprits at the earliest.
The incident came to light on Monday when the owner of Eklippz Hair and Beauty Salon went to pick up some cosmetics from the salon in the morning while she was out shopping for essentials during the shopping window.
The 30-year-old entrepreneur was left in shock on finding her salon, with all the valuables, vandalised by miscreants.
"While on my way to shopping around 9:30 am, I just thought of picking up some creams for myself at my salon and to check over my inverter which I had disconnected from charging a few days ago when lockdown was announced," the owner told Eastern Mirror on Tuesday.
She said that she found all new cosmetic products opened and smeared on the mirrors while other articles like tools, electrical appliances, hair machine sets, music system, cutting chairs, wigs, dummies, shampoo sink etc, “worth approximately INR 3,00,000 (INR 3 lakh)” were damaged and destroyed.
She also stated that one hair straightener and one hair curler were left immersed in a bucket of water with electric switch on, thus destroying them beyond recognition.
Her brother said that the miscreants might have dunked the hair machines into the bucket on purpose, either to electrocute the owner or to set the entire building on fire.
The owner informed that the miscreants broke into the salon by breaking the glass of the back door on the ground floor and that some cash which was kept in the drawer had also been stolen, while their daily savings register was torn to pieces.
"We kept a small amount of cash in the drawer to pay for some online products," the owner said, adding, "I only found the empty envelope in which we kept the money."
"I have been worrying about how to even pay the monthly rent as I could not earn anything since my parlour was closed down due to the lockdown," she said. "Whether the parlour is closed or open, I need to pay the rent," she added.
"At a time when I have been undergoing such stress, my salon was completely destroyed," she said. "I don't know if I could ever recover such losses now."
Her brother said that it was shocking to see people resorting to vandalism and robbery during the pandemic when many are struggling to pay rent or even to buy two square meals a day. While stating that lot of hard work was involved in setting up the salon, he wondered how such unlawful activities could happen right in the middle of the town. He also expressed doubt on safety of business establishments when citizens remain indoors in view of lockdown.
It was learnt that an FIR was lodged on Monday at Kohima North police station, following which the police came to inspect the salon.