3 min readPuneJan 11, 2011 05:15 AM IST
First published on: Jan 11, 2011 at 05:15 AM IST
It’s been a nightmarish experience for IT professionals Bhupesh Vankar,30,and wife Surabhi,an international roller skating player and an Asian games medallist. Early on Thursday,unidentified persons reportedly broke into their Tingre Nagar house while the couple was in Jammu on a vacation and stole their valuables. And more,their house then caught fire and their entire furniture and documents,including Surabhi’s sports certificates,were gutted.
Bhupesh has lodged a theft complaint at the Vishrantwadi police station. Police are yet to confirm whether the fire was accidental or set by someone.
The couple,both MBAs and are working in prominent IT companies,had purchased the one-bedroom terrace flat on the third floor of Omkar apartment in 2007 and had been staying there since then. “We went on the vacation on December 24 and had plans to return on January 9. But we rushed back early as neighbours informed us about the fire around 6 am on January 6.”
He said the other residents had vacated the building as the fire spread,besides calling in the fire brigade and police. “It took nearly half an hour for the fire brigade to douse the flames. Some parts of our neighbour’s flat were also damaged.”
A distraught Surabhi said,“I had won the bronze medal at Asian Games 1997 in Korea. The certificates I got at the Asian Games and other national events were all burnt. I don’t know whether there is any procedure to get a copy of them. Also,our mark sheets from standard 10 to MBA,passports,driving licences,flat agreement papers and other documents are all gone. All our belongings,the cupboard,refrigerator,kitchenware,wooden items,clothes are also burnt. The floor and roof of the house are also damaged.”
In his police complaint,Bhupesh said their gold and silver jewellery,a laptop and a clock were stolen. He has quoted a loss of around Rs 4.5 lakh in the fire. He said he found the remains of a laptop and a few silver coins in the ashes,but the other valuables were missing.
The police,meanwhile,are yet to solve the mystery behind the fire. Police inspector Pandurang Gophane said,“We have not seen a case where thieves burn down the house after theft. The burglars broke into Vankar’s house using duplicate keys. There is a possibility that while committing theft,they tampered with an electric wire,causing short circuit. Or they might have lighted a candle or cigarette in the house,causing fire. We have sought the fire brigade’s opinion on the cause of fire.”
Bhupesh said the chances of short circuit were remote as they had switched off the main switch and turned off the LPG cylinder before leaving for vacation. “We have no idea how the fire happened. Some cops told us that there are gangs in north India that burn houses after committing theft.”
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