123 Kolkata: Burglars broke into the locked house of a retired scientist from the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) in Salt Lake BD Block last week. They decamped with electronics and other items worth several lakhs from his home, as well as the home of his brother, an NRI living in the US.
According to the complaint lodged at Bidhannagar North police station on Sunday afternoon, burglars barged into the two-storey house of Pradeep Kumar Sengupta (75) sometime between last Wednesday and Friday. He and his wife were away, leaving the house locked.
"The front gate lock was intact, but both locks of the collapsible gate and the wooden door were broken open. The first-floor door lock, which is usually kept locked as it belongs to my younger brother, who is an NRI and stays in the US with his family, was also broken. The door was forcibly opened and damaged. The bookcases and multiple almirahs on the floor were also forcibly opened and ransacked," Sengupta wrote in his complaint.
Sengupta, a retired senior professor and ex-emeritus scientist (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) formerly attached to SINP and Calcutta University, told police that so far he could only spot a large wall-mounted TV, a rice cooker, and a hot plate stolen. He suspects several other items may also be missing.
"I am an old man. I approached the police for help, and they started a probe into the case. I protected my home with iron grills on doors and windows all around, but still, the burglars entered and ransacked our home," said Sengupta.
He added that his house also had CCTV cameras installed, but they were not functioning of late due to wiring, connectivity, and camera performance-related issues.
Cops probing the case said they started a manhunt for the burglars and are checking the CCTV cameras on the road for leads. "We are also questioning the neighbours and domestic help for any further information in the case. We are also speaking to other members of the family to know the exact number of items stolen from the home," said a senior official of Bidhannagar city police.