A suspicious fire early Monday morning completely destroyed four vehicles parked outside a house in Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram, raising concerns of a targeted attack. The incident occurred near the Kadavu bridge at Pulimoottil.
Vehicles Reduced to Ashes
The fire broke out in the car shed in front of the residence of Babu, a 56-year-old BJP worker and autorickshaw driver. The vehicles—an autorickshaw, two motorbikes, and a scooter—were fully gutted. Despite efforts by locals who rushed to the scene, the intensity of the flames prevented them from saving the vehicles.
The Attingal fire and rescue unit responded to the call, but by the time they reached the spot at Krishnalayam, Anathalavattom, the damage was already total. Officials confirmed the complete destruction of all four vehicles.
Suspicious Activity and a Possible Lead
Local residents have reported unsettling events in the days leading up to the fire. They told police that an unidentified person wearing a helmet arrived on a two-wheeler, inquired if the house belonged to Babu, and also demanded his phone number. This suspicious activity is now a key lead in the investigation.
The case gains a more serious dimension due to a strikingly similar recent incident. Days earlier, the house of Tintu, Babu's niece, was also gutted in a fire. Tintu is the BJP candidate from the 17th ward, Pandakashala, in Chirayinkeezhu. No clues have been found in that case so far.
Police Probe and Political Angle
The Chirayinkeezhu police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation. The probe includes a forensic examination of the scene and a thorough verification of CCTV footage from the locality. Given the victim's political affiliation and the connected incident involving his niece, a family member also in politics, investigators are not ruling out the possibility of political retaliation or a targeted attack.
The back-to-back fires at the residences of two related BJP figures have caused alarm in the area, with locals and authorities deeply concerned about the motives behind these destructive acts. The police are pursuing all angles to identify the culprits and establish a clear motive.
