Myself and my family comprising of my wife Mini and daughter Anvitha, along with the following persons, visited Munnar from 13th to 15th September and stayed in Hotel T & U, Munnar.
Mr. Anil Kumar M. V, S/o. Late P. Damodharan, Mavullapoil, Eriam, Kannur Dt., his wife Reshmi and son Yadhunand.
Mr. Hari C. K, S/o Krishnan, Eramam North, Eramam P.O., Kannur Dt., his wife Arathi and daughter Vaiga
Mr. Vipin Kumar, S/o.K.K. Divakaran, Karippal, Karippal P.O., Kannur Dt.
We had occupied Room Nos. 403, 404, 405 & 406 in T & U Munnar.
On 15th September morning, Anil Kumar, who stayed in Room No. 405 noticed that his room was break opened through the balcony doors during the night of 15th September and he lost Rs. 10, 000, three bangles weighing 8 gms each and one chain weighing around 7 gms, from his wife’s vanity bag kept inside the wardrobe of his room. We further noticed that window door was opened and also the balcony doors.
We immediately brought this incident to the hotel staff, and Mr. Rajan Kumar the PRO of the Hotel intervened. On checking we found that the burglar had left foot prints in the balcony and also there were visible marks of mud in the balcony wall. While checking around the room, we had noticed the further marks in WC pipes and also the room next to 406 was also break open. Mr. Rajan kumar, around 07.00hrs intimated the incident to Munnar Police Station and we were told the police would come any moment.
After waiting sometime, I along with Hari C K, rushed to the police station and the officer in charge asked us to give a written complaint detailing the incident and the describing our loss, which I did. After sometime, The Sub Inspector of Munnar Police Station, Mr. Prince informed us that he is on duty to Adimali and the ASI will inspect the incident and will do the needful. The ASI inspected the rooms and surroundings of the hotel. The ASI took our statements, detailed address and telephone nos of all of us. The process completed by around 10:00hrs. As we were booked to travel by 14:00hrs train from Eranakulam to Payyannur and also the my kid was down with flue, we informed the ASI that we will have to leave any moment and Anil Kumar and Vipin Kumar can stay back for completing the process, and getting the FIR details. The ASI informed us that as the SI is out of Munnar, it can be done only after the SI is back from Adimali, and the FIR formalities could be completed only after his return to Munnar. ASI further informed that the FIR details can be handed over to hotel authorities and it is not necessary for us to stay back. Mr. Rajan Kumar the PRO of T&U promised us as the incident is happened in their premises, it is their responsibility to ensure that police does their job and get justice to us. The ASI gave us the mobile number of the Sub inspector for further follow ups.
We had briefed the following what we had noticed from the hotel on 14th September night to the ASI and also to the Sub Inspector over phone:
1. Anil Kumar was awake in his room till around 00:30hrs of the night and the burglar would have entered in the room only after that.
2. As per the hotel records the security on duty did not do his routine rounding from during these hours.
3. There was frequent power failure on 14th September night and the backup generator goes on in 2-3 minutes time. The power failure occurred again in the mid night (around 01:00hrs) and at this particular point of time, back-up generator, apparently, got on after a long delay.
4. The garden area behind our rooms was light up throughout the night and we felt it was unusual as the lights were not on during the previous night.
5. The window doors are of glass and there are no security grills.
6. The balcony doors (of wood) was not get getting closed properly, which we informed the hotel staff also for which the hotel staff told us it is due to the rain and they are rectifying it.
While the ASI was at the hotel premises to inspect the place, we noticed that the ASI was taken alone to the PRO’s room and there was a closed door discussion. After that the Hotel PRO, called me to his office and informed the owner of the hotel had asked them to give us a compensation of Rs.10, 000/-. I was reluctant to take it and I had called my friend Hari to the room. The PRO, Mr. Kumar pleaded us to receive the cash saying it is a generosity of the owners.
I have been contacting the SI of Munnar Police Station and also the PRO of the Hotel for getting the FIR details. The Sub-Inspector informed me that the investigation is not over and they are some culprits and are hopeful of getting a lead in a week’s time. The PRO of the hotel me the same and he further informed that I will have to make a trip to Munnar in a week’s time to identify the gold we lost.
We had approached Munnar police station through a friend of us and one of the officers on duty (quoting not to refer his name anywhere) informed us that they have not registered the case. As we were finding difficult to get the SI over phone, probably due to his busy schedules, we had contacted him through Mr. Prashanth an SI in kerala Police force, whom happened to be from the same batch of Mr. Prince the SI of Munnar. The SI of Munnar informed Mr. Prashanth they have not registered the case and not taken any action, as we had no complaints. On the contrary, while we spoke to the SI he said they are going to take finger prints, the foot prints and questioning the suspected people around Munnar.
On 29th September I had met Mr. Thomas an SP in kerala police in Eranad Express while my journey to Ferok. I had briefed this ill treatment to the SP, who was so kind to guide me in this matter. He had called Mr. Prince the SI of Munnar on his mobile and the SI confessed to him that he has not taken any action on this matter and our case has not been registered.
From the above, it is clear that the Police of Munnar, especially the SI was inactive and he has some personal interest for being inactive. I feel the hotel had played a role in this matter, as frequent visits of police force to the hotel would tarnish their image in front of the guests.
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