Hyderabad: Ten days after Telangana police arrested ex-havildar U Mallesh for his alleged role in the sensational weapons heist at the Madras Regiment’s armoury, investigators are probing the suspected involvement of two more Army personnel.The two personnel, a Lance Naik and a Havildar, are being questioned by investigators who suspect they could have been part of a conspiracy with Mallesh, sources said.On the night of Aug 30, 12 sophisticated weapons, including AK-203 and INSAS assault rifles, were stolen from the armoury inside Secunderabad Cantonment. After days of probing by multiple agencies, Telangana police arrested Mallesh on Sept 11, after he allegedly confessed to the offence. The Hyderabad Task Force also recovered the weapons near Mallesh’s home in Nagarkurnool.Initial rounds of interrogation had indicated that Mallesh had committed the offence alone — he went to the armoury on a bike and sneaked out the weapons in the dead of night, taking advantage of the lack of CCTV coverage after dark — and later moved the loot to his village in Nagarkurnool. Now, however, police suspect the involvement of more people in the theft.Coinciding with Monday’s development, meanwhile, a local court granted Bollaram police 10 days’ custody of Mallesh for further interrogation. His custodial questioning will begin on Tuesday, sources told TOI. Investigators sought his custody, stating that the accused had allegedly committed a grave offence that required an in-depth investigation.The two serving Army personnel will also be questioned in Mallesh’s presence to corroborate their claims.According to sources, while the Lance Naik, who holds a supervisory role, was on duty near the armoury a day before the offence, the Havildar was posted elsewhere. “How he could have played the role of an accomplice to Mallesh is still being ascertained,” said an official, who remained tight-lipped about the suspected role of both in the alleged conspiracy.As of now, sources said, both Army personnel are being treated as suspects. “Depending on the findings of the investigation over the next 10 days, a decision will be taken on whether to charge the duo,” a source added.The investigation is being conducted predominantly by military officials.
