Arson at Entally high-rise: RFID-enabled boom barrier plan after 50 lakh setback
Times of India | 12 February 2024
Kolkata: A combined setback of around Rs 50 lakh has prodded the residents of a housing complex in Sealdah to install RFID-enabled boom barriers on the open parking spaces to prevent scooters blocking car parking spaces that had been the bone of contention of the arson on Saturday.
At least 11 vehicles — among them eight motorcycles and three four-wheelers — were completely gutted inside Ekta Oleander complex in the Entally area on RNC Road adjoining Sealdah in the wee hours of Saturday.The owners estimated the combined loss to be around Rs 50 lakh.
A businessman in his late 20s, Barum Khamroz, had allegedly set the vehicles on fire in a fit of rage after he found that his allotted parking space was already occupied for the night.
“I own an SUV that was parked right next to the place from where the arson started. I wasn’t at the complex then. My driver called me in the morning informing me about the blaze. That car has been completely gutted. The car was barely three years old. I don’t know if the third party insurance would cover much of the damage,” said one of the owners.
Another resident, whose scooter was completely gutted leaving just the registration number plate visible was also crestfallen. “If the registration plate wasn’t there, I couldn’t have even recognized my scooter, forget seeking an insurance compensation,” said the resident.
Security guards said Khamroz returned to the complex around 1.30 am on Saturday on his motorbike and began kicking two bikes that were parked at the place where he usually parked his bike. Oil started leaking from the bikes as they fell on the ground after which he was seen throwing a burnt cigarette there starting the fire that soon engulfed much of the parking lot.
Angry residents had started beating up Khamroz who was later rescued by Entally cops and arrested. He is now under judicial custody.
On Sunday, cops cordoned off the area with crime scene tapes and deployed uniformed policemen to ensure no one enters the place and disturb the site. Officials of the state forensic science laboratory also collected samples from the spot.
In an emergency meeting held at the complex, the RWA members scratched their heads on finding a solution to prevent a repeat of such an incident in the future.
“Khamroz had a habit of picking up fights with people over random issues. But on Saturday something happened about which none of us were prepared for. However, it has been an eye opener. We are now trying to install boom barriers before each parking space with RFID enabled gates to prevent parking of unallotted cars and two wheelers in parking spaces owned by residents,” said Manish Maheshwari, secretary of the RWA.
Meanwhile, the RWA also made a list of persons whose vehicles were damaged in the fire and the extent of damages.
“We will help the residents in getting an NOC and are working in close coordination with the cops so that they can get the insurance compensation on time,” said Maheshwari.
Explore Your Financial Landscape with Personalized Credit Insights.