Former India hockey captain M M Somaya has appealed to local authorities after his 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal and other prized sporting memorabilia were stolen during a burglary at his Bengaluru residence.
The break-in occurred at his home in New Thippasandra, with law enforcement officials confirming that multiple international medals and valuables were taken from the property.
Alongside the historic Olympic gold medal, the intruders reportedly stole a silver medal from the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and a bronze medal from the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.
A bronze medal from the 1982 Champions Trophy held in Amsterdam was also taken during the incident, dealing a heavy blow to the veteran midfielder's collection of sporting honours.
According to the police complaint filed by the former captain, the burglary took place in the early hours of October 28, with the crime coming to light after a neighbour noticed the front door open.
CCTV footage retrieved from a neighbouring property captured two unidentified suspects forcing their way into the residence, prompting local police to form two special teams to track down the culprits.
In addition to the sporting medals, the burglars made off with gold jewellery, silverware, and cash, bringing the total estimated value of the stolen property to 3.53 lakh rupees.
Writing to Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, the 67-year-old urged authorities to deploy all possible resources to recover the irreplaceable items linked to the nation's sporting heritage.
Somaya emphasised that the stolen Olympic gold medal holds immense historical importance, representing India's last Olympic gold medal in men's hockey and years of dedication to the sport.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as investigators continue analysing CCTV footage and searching for the suspects involved in the targeted burglary.
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