Former National Women’s Swimming Champion Bula Chowdhury’s Residence Burgled

Bula-Chowdhury's-residence
Former National Swimming Champion Bula Chowdhury’s residence ransacked by culprits . Image Source : Xtra Time

Kolkata : Former National Women’s Swimming champion , Bula Choudhury  is passing through a dark phase in her life right now. For the second time in less than 10 months, the Padma Shri award-winner’s home has been ransacked and looted. On Republic Day Mrs Choudhury arrived at her residence in Hind Motor with her family to discover that almost all   her  trophies and medals she had won over the years from National and International championships are missing. In fact her brand new LED TV has also been carried away by the thieves.

The stolen items include 3 awards from the President of India, a gold medal which she had won in Australia on 1985, and a silver crown which was given to her at a felicitation at Haldia. But strangely her Padmashree medal has been spared by the thieves . “When I entered one of the rooms I discovered my Padmashree medal lying on the ground.” Choudhury said. She has lodged an FIR against the theft  at the local Uttarpara Police Station. She had also faxed  to West Bengal’s sports minister, Arup Biswas who had conveyed the matter  to the police .

Bula-Chowdhury
Former National Swimming Champion Bula Chowdhury receiving the Arjuna Award . File Pic

Bula Chowdhury currently lives in Kolkata. On 26 January she had planned to take her family  at her second residence in Hind Motor to find a broken lock dangling on the hooks of her main gate. She immediately rushed into her home and realized that robbers had broken into her home again.  On 14 March 2015 her home was robbed for the first time.

“I am neither a cricketer nor a film star. I am just a swimmer. I struggle everyday just to make two ends meet. My trophies and awards were the only resources that I had at my disposal. And now almost all of them are gone. Maybe forever.” said the Arjuna Award winner.

Right now top police officials are guarding her Hind Motor residence but the famous long-distance swimmer seems to be skeptical about the way the police are handling her case. “I am a swimmer who knows nothing else but the finish line. Now I can only hope to see the police finding out who the culprits are ” Choudhury added.

The Hooghly born swimmer has won six gold medals in as many events. She became the first woman in the world to swim across seven seas in five continents and to swim across the English Channel twice.

The former CPI(M) legislator from Nandanpur in West Midnapore district in West Bengal also said, “I have retired from active politics a long time ago. Right now I identify myself as the daughter of West Bengal.” When Xtratime asked her whether this incident was a result of political rivalry from the current ruling party in West Bengal , Bula Chowdhury said, “I have no idea .”