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A Village Burnt Overnight: Tears, Loss and Survival in Dhamangaon Blaze

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  Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
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Daylight robbery: Robbers stuck at house of ex-DG of CRPF

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  • The criminals posing as courier boys barged inside house snatched gold ornaments worth Rs 5.48  lakh from 81-year old women 

By Dheeraj Fartode
In a daring day-light robbery raising big question-mark over efficiency of Nagpur Police, three armed robbers struck at the house of former Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) T G L Iyer (IPS officer of 1952 batch) at Verma lay-out under the jurisdiction of Ambazari police station on Friday and walked away with booty worth Rs 5.48 lakh. The incident again brought to fore much neglected issue of safety of senior citizens and how criminals are becoming emboldened with every passing day.

One of the robber, who posed himself as courier boy entered the house of T G L Iyer (Presently working as Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nagpur Kendra with great distinction), situated at plot no 103-A, Verma lay-out and forcefully and snatched away gold ornaments from the Managala Iyer (81 years), wife of Iyer, said police. The old lady was alone at home with her nurse and the robbers used brutal force to overpower her and threatened to assault her and snatched the gold bangles, chain and other ornaments from her person. To ensure that Mrs. Iyer does not shout, the robbers threatened to kill her.

The shocking incident in posh locality targeting residence of a former top cop of CRPF and very distinguished IPS officer, put entire police force on toes and as expected top brass rushed to spot to take stock of the situation. Massive manhunt has been launched against the unidentified persons.
Retd DG of CRPF T G L Iyer along where the theft took place. 
Sindhu Khendar (55), a nurse at Iyer’s household for almost past four and half years told ‘The Hitavada’ that TGL Iyer and his son TL Raja were at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and only Mangala Iyer and herself were at home. The incident took place between 6.10 pm and 6.20 pm. She said that a constable of CRPF, who is deployed at the residence during day-time, left Iyer residence at around 5.50 pm and she was at drawing room, when she heard opening of gate.

A young man between the age of 24 and 26 entered through the gate and told the woman that he has come with a courier for Iyer family. The youth was carrying one magazine size envelope and Sindhu informed about his arrival to Mrs. Iyer who directed former to take the courier. After taking delivery of the packet from the youth as Sindhu was about to close the door the youth asked for a glass of water. Sindhu went to the kitchen and in no time, the youth along with his two accomplices barged inside the house with criminal intent and pushed Mrs Iyer down from the chair and started dishing out threats and attempted to strangulate her.

Sindhu was shocked after watching this horrific scene and pleaded with the criminals to leave the old lady. The request fell on deaf ears and the criminals then warned to kill both women and took out sharp edged knife, before Sindhu could raise an alarm and alert Mr Iyer and his son, who were away from home.

The robbers then overpowered Mrs Iyer and snatched gold chains, mangalsutra, six bangles, two bangles and pair of ear tops collectively estimated at Rs 5.48 lakh. By this time, Sindhu had gathered courage and warned the robbers that they had tried to attack house of a retired police officer and their actions have been caught in security cameras. The accused developed cold feet but while fleeing they snatched gold ornaments and Rs 2,000 cash of Sindhu. It was kept in a bag in the front room of Iyer’s house.

This presence of mind shown by the nurse frightened the criminals who took to their heels before they could harm Mrs. Iyer. While leaving, the robbers bolted the door from outside. Mrs Iyer was shocked beyond belief by the audacity shown by delinquents who tried to assault her and displayed brutality. The entire episode lasted for barely 10 minutes.
CP K K Pathak, Joint CP Sanjay Saxena, Additional CP Anant Shinde 
As the all doors were locked from outside, Sindhu informed Mangala’s son T L Raja about the incident and Raja rushed to the spot. Staff of Ambazari police also rushed to the spot and started panchanama. Senior police officers including Commissioner of Police K K Pathak, Joint CP Sanjay Saxena, DCP Zone I Kailash Kanse, DCP (crime) Sunil Kolhe, ACPs Gangaram Sakharkhar, Sunil Jaiswal, Police Inspectors Madhav Giri and Anil Kathkade also rushed to the spot.

International Trustee of Bhavan’s and Chairman of BVB’s Nagpur Kendra and former MP Banwarilal Purohit also rushed to spot on learning about the matter. Mr T G L Iyer displayed utmost poise and was seen undeterred by this incident and was guiding the police force. Ambazari police have registered the case under sections 452, 392, 419 and 34 of IPC and massive manhunt has been launched to nab the criminals.
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