Mangalore: A fire that devastated the house of coolie Gunakar in Attavara on Wednesday, was housed by Fire brigade fighters, but half the two-roomed house was gutted and valuable land documents were burnt to ashes.

Gunakar has a wife Seema and 3 children in one room, and shared the house with brother Nagesh. He was at work, and Seema did the cooking, put out the hearth fire, and went out only to find horrified later on that the house was in flames. As it had no gas or power connections, the fire must have been lit up by someone.

Seema alleged foul play, as neighbours were not on good terms with Seema or Gunakar, who was fighting a case for encroachment of his land by the neighbour.

But documents of this court case are burnt now in the fire. The loss is estimated at Rs40,000.

The family is stunned by the turn of events and expects some leaders to help them in their crisis. Their elder son is in school, studying in 6th class.