The police are hunting for the identity and number of assailants.

Manish Kumar, whose bike was among those torched, said, “I woke up at 3.15 am for a glass of water. Outside, I saw many bikes in the colony were on fire.” As he rushed down to douse the flames, Kumar, who works with a private firm, found the scooter and bike of his tenants, Rajesh Kumar and Pushpa, were also on fire.

A fire tender brought the flames under control by 4.25 am, Fire officials said.

Ajay Chaudhary, DCP (East), said, “A case under Section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) has been registered against unknown assailants. At this stage, it cannot be said whether there were one or more than one assailants.”

Police sources said it could be the handiwork of a mentally unstable person. “The vehicles were burnt in the space of two to three minutes and no particular community or family (vehicle owner) was targeted,” a police officer said.