The theft of a piece of Indian sporting history has prompted former India hockey captain M M Somaya to seek the Karnataka government's intervention. Burglars allegedly broke into his Bengaluru residence last month and stole the gold medal won by India's men's hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, along with three other international medals and valuables.
Somaya, 67, has written to Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, requesting him to make all possible efforts to retrieve the medal. India has not won any Olympic gold in men's hockey after its win at the 1980 Games so far, according to a Hockey India report.
The crime was committed at his New Thippasandra house in Bengaluru at around 2.34 am on October 28. Somaya and his family members had gone to Kodagu. The incident was brought to his notice at 7.15 am when his neighbour informed him that the door of the house was open.
CCTV footage is said to have captured the two unidentified men breaking into the house. The police report said one intruder was dressed in a blue shirt and another in red.
“Subsequently, when the CCTV footage from the neighbour’s house was examined, it was found that at around 2.34 am on October 28, two unidentified persons had entered the complainant’s house. Of the two persons, one was wearing a blue shirt and the other a red shirt,” PTI quoted the FIR.
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Four International Medals Among Stolen Valuables
The Olympic gold medal was not the only sporting honour taken during the burglary. The burglars also allegedly stole three other medals from Somaya's international career:
- A silver medal from the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
- A bronze medal from the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.
- A bronze medal from the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.
Other stolen items included a 10-gram gold bangle, an eight-gram gold coin, two silver cups weighing 144 grams, six silver spoons, an 80-gram silver pot and Rs 30,000 in cash.
The total value of the stolen property has been estimated at Rs 3.53 lakh. However, Somaya has stressed that the significance of the Olympic medal goes far beyond its monetary worth.
Police Form Two Teams To Trace Suspects
Indiranagar police have registered a case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Two special teams have been formed to identify the suspects and recover the stolen property.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Division) Vikram Amte confirmed the formation of the teams as the investigation continues.
Three Olympics, One Gold And An Arjuna Award
Somaya played for India in the 1980 Moscow Olympics when the men's hockey team bagged the gold medal. He also played for India in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1988 Seoul Olympics, leading the Indian squad in the latter.
His hockey career consisted of two World Cups, two Asian Games, two Asia Cups and three Champions Trophy tournaments. In 1985, he was awarded the Arjuna Award for his efforts towards Indian hockey.