Robbers loot house, deface wall with vulgar graffiti before setting it ablaze | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Robbers vandalised a house, defaced the walls with vulgar graffiti, and set it on fire after looting valuables and money in Balugaon area of Khurda district in the early hours of Saturday. The fire destroyed most of the household belongings. Nobody was present in the house when the criminals ransacked the place and then set it on fire.
Businessman Abhinas Sethi and his family were away attending the wedding of a relative when the incident took place. “We returned on Saturday morning and found our house burnt, vandalised and burgled. Smoke was billowing from the windows and the entrance door, which was found unlocked and open,” said Sethi, adding that the neighbours did not get a whiff of the incident.
Preliminary probe indicated that the miscreants gained entry by breaking open the main door. They searched through all rooms, ransacked almirahs, and scribbled offensive messages on the walls before setting fire to the house. While the total value of stolen items is still being assessed, initial estimates indicate losses exceeding Rs 2 lakh.
“We had around 200 grams of gold jewellery and Rs 55,000 cash in the house. Thieves have stolen them. They broke our television set, furniture, cupboards and other household items before torching the rooms. Beds, furniture, clothes and other household items have been completely gutted,” Sethi said, adding, “We were shocked to find obscene messages written on our walls.”
Balugaon police have formed a team to apprehend the criminals. Investigators have gathered evidence for thorough forensic examination. “We are looking into all possibilities, including personal vendetta and organised crime. Several teams are working to solve this case,” Khurda SP Sagarika Nath told TOI.
The police strongly suspect this could be an act of revenge by one or more individuals. Police find it unusual for thieves to spend time vandalising property and setting it on fire, as typical burglars aim to leave quickly after committing theft. Sethi maintained he had no enemies. “Everyone in our family and neighbourhood expressed shock at the incident, noting that such a combination of theft, vandalism, and arson was unprecedented,” Sethi said.
Businessman Abhinas Sethi and his family were away attending the wedding of a relative when the incident took place. “We returned on Saturday morning and found our house burnt, vandalised and burgled. Smoke was billowing from the windows and the entrance door, which was found unlocked and open,” said Sethi, adding that the neighbours did not get a whiff of the incident.
Preliminary probe indicated that the miscreants gained entry by breaking open the main door. They searched through all rooms, ransacked almirahs, and scribbled offensive messages on the walls before setting fire to the house. While the total value of stolen items is still being assessed, initial estimates indicate losses exceeding Rs 2 lakh.
“We had around 200 grams of gold jewellery and Rs 55,000 cash in the house. Thieves have stolen them. They broke our television set, furniture, cupboards and other household items before torching the rooms. Beds, furniture, clothes and other household items have been completely gutted,” Sethi said, adding, “We were shocked to find obscene messages written on our walls.”
Balugaon police have formed a team to apprehend the criminals. Investigators have gathered evidence for thorough forensic examination. “We are looking into all possibilities, including personal vendetta and organised crime. Several teams are working to solve this case,” Khurda SP Sagarika Nath told TOI.
The police strongly suspect this could be an act of revenge by one or more individuals. Police find it unusual for thieves to spend time vandalising property and setting it on fire, as typical burglars aim to leave quickly after committing theft. Sethi maintained he had no enemies. “Everyone in our family and neighbourhood expressed shock at the incident, noting that such a combination of theft, vandalism, and arson was unprecedented,” Sethi said.
