Can You Solve This Mystery? Why Did the Police Arrest the Fireman Without Asking?

Hi Friends,

Let's exercise our brains a little today. I am posting a puzzle, and let's see who gets it right. Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid a house to arrest a suspected MURDERER. They don't know what he looks like, but they know his name is "John". Inside the room, they find a carpenter, a lorry driver, a car mechanic, and a fireman playing cards. Without even asking his name, the police immediately arrested the fireman. How do they know they have got their man?

The answer would come from one of you. I know. If no one gets it right, I will post the answer tomorrow.

Cheers,
Himanshu

Hey guys,

So many views but no one attempted to answer. Even if you get it wrong, you would at least participate. So give it a try, and someday we could use this in training. You see, thinking out of the box is what is required here.

Regards,
Himanshu

Fireman was wearing a chain with a cross. As we know, his name is John, and he was also in his uniform. :)

Ruchi

Hi,

I think the fireman should be at work. Why was he playing cards there freely? I thought of participating. Can't wait for an answer. Himanshu, can we have an answer please?

Regards,
Sujata

Simple,

The policeman entered and shouted, "John, you are under arrest!" John put his cards down and was the most panicked person.

Regards,
Harsha

Prof. Laxman's answer looks most probable: The fireman is the only man in the room. The rest of the card players are women.

Dear Prof. Lakshman,

You got it right! The fireman was the only man in the room. This puzzle is an excellent example of how our perceptions stop us from thinking logically. We all operated with the perception that all of the people in the room are men (a lorry driver... can't a woman be a lorry driver, can't a woman be a carpenter, and can't a woman be a car mechanic?). Cheers, Professor!

The right answer is The fireman was the only man in the room.

More puzzles to come today.

Regards,
Himanshu

Hi,

The fireman was in uniform, and it had his name tag on it. Elementary, my dear Watson!

Regards,
Ajay

Hi,

All the others, i.e., carpenter, lorry driver, and car mechanic, are independent workers, whereas the fireman works for the fire department. Instead of being at the department, how was he playing cards in uniform? So, I think by logic, the police should arrest him.

Regards,
Sridhar

I think from holding the position of cards or the difference in cards, the police could find out that the fireman would be guilty.

Abhijeet

Hey guys, it's so obvious! All others are dead except the fireman playing cards!! No wonder the police got him without asking questions 😉

Sonali

Hi Himanshu,

Upon entering, the policemen said, "Hands up, John!" and up went the fireman's hand. 😄

Regards,
Latha

Hey Guys,

Professor Laxman got it right already... The answer is, "The fireman was the only man in the room, and all the others were women. So, the police could figure out that he was the murderer."

This puzzle is a good example of how people operate with perception and hence cannot solve logic that is too simple. Here, we all tried to perceive that all of them were men and could not find the correct answer. But if you think out of the box (out of the perception), then you would be able to figure out that all the others (mechanic, driver, etc.) were females, and only the fireman is a man.

Regards,
Himanshu

Hi Himanshu,

You have pointed it out correctly. We all have a general perception that all these tasks can only be done by males. Can't imagine that these tasks can also be done by females! :D

Regards,
Sujata

Hi Fireman is the only man; the rest were women 🤪 A carpenter, lorry driver, or mechanic can be women, but "Himanshu," you stated fireman.

I think when the policeman entered the room and said, "John, you're under arrest," the fireman would have reacted, or John would have reacted upon hearing the police sound. Please let me know the right answer. :)

Regards,
Rangaraj

The fireman was the only man in the room, and all others were women. So, the police could figure out that he was the murderer.

This puzzle is a good example of how people operate with perception and hence cannot solve logic that is too simple. Here, we all tried to perceive that all of them were men and could not find the correct answer. But if you think out of the box (out of the perception), then you would be able to figure out that all others (mechanic, driver, etc., all were females) and only the fireman is a man.

Regards,
Himanshu

In the scenario, there must be four individuals. One should be Singh (with a turban), another should be Khan (with a cap and beard), one must be a woman, and the remaining person will be Jhon, who the police have arrested.

Viranchi

Hi guys,

Isn't the answer obvious? All three are dead except for the 'fireman playing cards'. Therefore, he is the obvious choice!!! 8)

Sonali

Hello friends,

I have made a PowerPoint presentation on lateral thinking. I hope you all find it interesting.

Regards,
Neha