Student, gym trainer, worker: Who are three Indians killed in suspected arson attack in Germany

PTC News Desk: Three Indians killed in a fire at a residential building in Bochum, Germany, were all from Kerala. The victims have been identified as Nova Sabu, 25, from Kattappana in Idukki district; Anjali Sheela Joy, 25, from Kollam district; and Sivin Johny, 26, from Kalady in Ernakulam district, according to investigators.

German police have arrested a 41-year-old Romanian man who lived in the same building on suspicion of murder, German news channel n-tv reported, citing the German Press Agency (DPA).

A Bochum police spokesperson told WDR that there were initial grounds to suspect the man of murder. He had been questioned by officers from the homicide squad.

The fire broke out at around 4.15 am local time in a multi-storey residential building on Poststrasse in Bochum’s Hofstede district. Firefighters found the three bodies in an apartment on the second floor. Five other people were injured, including a Malayali student who is reportedly in critical condition.

Investigators have ruled out a technical fault as the cause of the fire and suspect it was deliberately set. Police believe the fire started on the ground floor before spreading up the building’s wooden staircase, the main escape route. Thick smoke quickly filled the corridors.

Neighbours told police that residents of the building had argued the day before the fire.

Gym trainer, worker and student

Nova Sabu was the daughter of KP Sabu, a retired sub-inspector, and PN Jyothi, a public health nurse at the Chembakappara primary health centre. She travelled to Germany on July 3 and was working part-time as a gym trainer.

Sivin Johny had arrived in Germany only about two weeks earlier to pursue higher studies. His brother, Salvin, lives in Germany, while his sister, Simi, lives in Ireland.

Anjali Sheela Joy held a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree and went to Germany in July for work. She was employed at a warehouse.

Prasanna Prayas, a ward member and family relative, said Joy had always dreamed of getting a government job in Kerala.

“She appeared for the PSC exams several times, but when she could not succeed, she went abroad,” Prayas said. “She used to say that she wanted to work and live here. A government job was her dream.”

Joy’s uncle, Johnson, said the family became worried when she did not make her usual nightly phone call on Tuesday.

“We called her, but there was no answer, even though the phone kept ringing,” he said.

A friend living in Dubai later informed the family about the fire. By morning, news reports had listed Joy among the dead. “We have not yet received any official information from Germany,” Johnson said. A relative living in Germany visited the site and confirmed the news with local police. Another nephew travelled from Austria.

Efforts to bring bodies home

Kollam MP NK Premachandran has asked India’s Ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte, to help bring the bodies of the three Indians back to India as soon as possible.

State Tourism Minister PC Vishnunath said the government had started the process and was coordinating with the Department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs and the Indian Embassy. Malayali associations in Germany are also helping the families. Joy’s relatives said these groups had offered to cover the cost of bringing the bodies home once the official procedures were completed.