Udvada, the abode of the Iranshah Atash Behram, one of the most serene places, witnessed one of the most heinous crimes some years ago when a priest, Ervad Ratanshah Katila was murdered on a dark night while the electric power was cut off. The priest was in the sandalwood business. He would spread bundles of currency notes on the seat of the swing on his balcony, right in public view. One dark night, taking advantage of the situation, his servants allegedly stabbed the priest fatally and made away with the money.
When there are navjotes and weddings in the family, jewelry is taken out of the safes. This provides an opportunity for miscreants to commit thefts. Faces darkened with black soot powder and limbs smeared with oil make the robbers extremely slippery to catch and difficult to spot. They also carry chilli powder to sprinkle in the eyes of the victims before making good their exit with the stolen items.
Let me narrate an incident of theft, though a minor one, in our own premises. Many years ago my family had gone to Bombay to attend a wedding, leaving the bungalow in charge of the dispensary orderly and a young servant. Nothing was left behind that would attract the attention of mischief makers, but the harvested paddy brought in from the field was stored in one room. One night a couple of thieves entered the premises and told the faithful orderly to leave the bungalow, threatening to kill him if he did not. The frightened man ran on to the main road, shouting "Thief! Thief!” The neighboring hut dwellers did not respond, but a Punjabi truck owner-cum-driver residing nearby came armed with the heavy "handle” of the truck (the instrument to start the engine of the vehicle). This frightened the thieves who retreated, thanks to the brave Punjabi, reducing our loss to a couple of gunny bags of rice.
Following these incidents, strict police patrolling was organized in Udvada.
Dr V. M. MEHER HOMJI
vispymeherhomji@gmail.com