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Blaze followed murder probe
31/ 8/2004
IT'S been an unlucky year for businessman Sajid Mahmood - first
his takeaway was closed by police investigating a murder and now it
has been closed again due to a fire.
The blaze at Eastern Taste, on Church Street, Accrington,
devastated the premises.
It came just months after it was closed by police investigating the
murder of Accrington mum-of-six Zainab Begum.
But owner Sajid Mahmood, aged 35, has pledged to get his business
back on its feet.
"I did it last time, so I can hopefully do it again," he
said.
"I intend to get the place fixed up and work harder than ever to
make it a success. I've apologised to my customers for the closure
and their support has been excellent, and that in itself gives me
strength."
"After the mayhem of the murder investigation, which everyone
understood had nothing to do with me, I had to borrow money from
family and friends to get the takeaway back to full
strength."
Mr Mahmood, who has operated the business for nearly five years,
said he finds his bad luck very hard to believe. In February the
takeaway, then called Millennium, was shut after Mr Mahmood allowed
two brothers to run it while a deal to sell it to them was
finalised.
The men, Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Arshad, of Crumpsall, near
Manchester, were arrested and currently await trial in connection
with the alleged murder of their mother-in-law Mrs Begum, of
Burnley Road, Accrington.
"Everyone seems really gobsmacked by what has gone on," said Mr
Mahmood. "This is definitely the worst year I can remember and my
customers keep asking why me. I wish I knew."
Forensic examiners have been sifting through the rubble of the
former kitchen to establish how the fire started.
Mr Mahmood, who lives in Portland Street, Accrington, with his wife
and daughter, said: "We think the fire started in a chip fryer but
I am waiting for confirmation about that. I don't really know how
long it will be closed but I'm keen to get it open again so I can
serve my regulars."
Mr Arshad, 36, denies murder and Mr Khan, 37, pleaded not guilty to
the charge of assisting an offender at a hearing in June.
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