Padma Shri of Arjun-awardee swimmer Bula Chowdhury stolen from her Hooghly home

Internationally acclaimed and Arjuna award-winning Indian swimmer Bula Chowdhury has been left devastated after her prestigious Padma Shri award was stolen from her ancestral home in Hind Motor, Hooghly district, on Friday. The theft, which also included numerous other medals and trophies, has shocked the sporting community and raised serious questions about security measures at the residence, which served as a museum for her storied career achievements.

Chowdhury, who currently resides in Kasba, South Kolkata, had chosen to display all the awards, trophies, and medals earned throughout her career at her family's ancestral home in Hind Motor. It was her regular practice to visit the house every week to ensure that her prized possessions were safe and well-kept. On Friday, however, she was horrified to discover that the Padma Shri award shield, a symbol of her lifetime of hard work, was missing from its display spot.

Upon further inspection, it was revealed that the theft was not limited to just the Padma Shri. Several other awards, trophies, and medals, accumulated over a career that saw her cross the English Channel twice, were also stolen. The sheer number of missing items has compounded the loss for the legendary swimmer, who had dedicated her life to the sport.

According to the swimmer's brother, Milan Chowdhury, who resides at the Hind Motor address, this was not the first time their home had been targeted. He stated that there had been three prior attempts of theft or robbery at the residence in the past. "Every time a complaint was lodged with the police, but such attempts did not stop. A police picket was also set up there for some time, which was removed after a certain period," he said, indicating a history of security vulnerabilities.

Deputy Commissioner of the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate (Srerampore), Arnab Biswas, confirmed the incident and provided more details, stating that a total of 10 medals and shields were stolen. Biswas added, "At first glance, it seemed that all the stolen items were made of gold. We have started a thorough investigation into the matter," hinting at the potential high value of the stolen items and the professionalism of the thieves.

Upon receiving the devastating news, a distraught Bula Chowdhury immediately rushed from Kolkata to her Hind Motor home. Upon arrival, she broke down in tears and openly criticized the police for failing to provide adequate security for a residence that housed such prestigious national awards. In a direct and emotional address, she said, "I earned these medals after a lot of hard work and struggle. Now most of them have been stolen. My question to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is why the police could not succeed in stopping this?"