Good Old American Competition

Observers were quick to blame the transfat ban for increased anxiety among the city’s food purveyors:

Kabeer Ahmad, 32, the proprietor of the Kennedy Fried Chicken shop at 868 Hunts Point Ave., was nabbed for allegedly torching the Twin Donut shop next door at 4 a.m. yesterday.

Ahmad confessed he set the fire because he was upset that the donut shop had started selling other food, including fried chicken, last month, sources said.

The doughnut store was gutted and Ahmad’s business damaged.

A new owner, Mike Chhor, had been set to take over the doughnut store yesterday.

Chhor, who paid $25,000 for the business, watched as it went up in flames.

Fire Marshals Michael Durkin and Robert Cristadoro reported finding a juice container and spray can that reeked of gasoline inside Ahmad’s restaurant. They also spotted a hole in the wall dividing the two shops.

Investigators said Ahmad had been complaining to other store owners about losing business to the doughnut shop. He was charged with arson.