Docus destroyed in VAO office fire, cops suspect foul play

The Village Administrative Office (VAO) of Melakottaiyur and Nagagudy have been functioning at the office in Melakkottaiyur main road in Kumbakonam, where Azarudeen and Balamurali have been functioning as VAOs respectively. As the office of Nagagudi VAO was in a dilapidated condition, the officer has been keeping the documents in theMelakkottaiyur building.

On the wee hours of Saturday, the people from the locality had witnessed smoke emanating from the building and they had immediately passed on the information to the Fire and Rescue Services in Kumbakonam.

The fire and rescue team was immediately pressed into service, who doused the fire after a two-hour struggle. By the time the team doused the fire, the documents of the VAO were reduced to ashes. Subsequently, the Melakottaiyur VAO Azarudeen lodged a complaint with the Kumbakonam East police station. The Kumbakonam east police registered a case and are investigating. According to the police, more than 70 per cent of documents were reduced to ashes.

Based on the preliminary details gathered by the police, they suspected that there would be foul play involved. As the local body polls are fast approaching, the fire incident has also raised several eyebrows in the region.