Concerns over local policing and security have surfaced in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district after unidentified burglars targeted the ancestral residence of Narayan Singh Panwar, the Minister of State for Fishermen Welfare and Fisheries. The incident took place in Semlapar village, located under the jurisdiction of the Suthaliya police station. An intruder broke open the locks of the unattended house, forced open a storage chest kept inside, and decamped with 80000 rupees in cash, triggering alarm across the district administration.
Break-in Staged While Residence Remained Unattended
According to Suthaliya police station in-charge Anil Rahoriya, the minister's wife, Rajeshwari Panwar, resides at the Semlapar village home. On Thursday evening, she had traveled to Biaora for personal work, leaving the residential premises locked. Taking advantage of the vacant property, the intruder struck during the night, breaking the primary locks to gain entry. Once inside, the culprit targeted a locked chest, broke its latch, and stole the 80000 rupees cash kept within before fleeing the scene undetected.
FIR Registered on Son Complaint as Probe Focuses on Workers
Following the discovery of the theft, local police formally registered a case against an unidentified perpetrator acting on a complaint submitted by Rajendra Panwar, the minister's son. Initial inquiries revealed that ongoing construction work was taking place at the ancestral property. Several laborers had reportedly been staying on the premises in connection with the building work, prompting investigators to line up these workers for questioning to uncover vital leads.
Communication Gap Emerges Among Police Officials
The high-profile burglary has brought public scrutiny onto local law enforcement, while also highlighting an apparent lack of coordination within the police hierarchy. When questioned about the incident, Biaora SDOP Prakash Sharma stated that he had no immediate information regarding the matter and had not yet received the formal FIR copy. Conversely, the Suthaliya police station in-charge maintained that the case was registered immediately upon receiving the information and that higher-ranking officers had already been apprised of developments. The theft at an elected minister's ancestral house continues to raise difficult questions regarding policing and night vigilance across rural settlements in the region.
