HYDERABAD/PUNE: The sensational theft of 12 sophisticated weapons, including AK-203 assault rifles and an INSAS rifle, from the Madras Regiment’s armoury at Bollarum in Secunderabad Cantonment has shaken the Army establishment in Hyderabad.Although the theft took place late Sunday night in the heavily guarded cantonment, details of the crime began trickling out only on Monday night.Senior police officers told TOI that by Tuesday afternoon, Army authorities had detained four persons, including those recruited under the Agniveer scheme and civilian staff, for their alleged involvement in the crime, but refused to provide further details.Four AK-203 assault rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were stolen.
Police officers confirmed that the weapons were smuggled out of the high-security cantonment area. It was not clear till late Tuesday whether they had been recovered.“In view of the nature of the missing articles, particularly the service weapons and ammunition, there is a possibility of their unauthorised possession, misuse or movement,” a complaint filed with police by an officer of the Madras Regiment said.“A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the matter and find out the exact motive behind this act and the sequence of events,” a senior Army officer told TOI.The theft took place when the main body of the battalion, including the commanding officer and other senior officers along with most of the troops, had gone for field firing at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan, another senior Army officer said. The unit’s second-in-command, a lieutenant colonel, was in charge at the time.“The records of personnel deployed on duty on the day of the incident and in the last few weeks will also be checked and verified. Their military records and credibility will be closely examined by the inquiry panel,” the officer said.Army units follow standard operating procedures for armoury security, with personnel selected for such duties after due scrutiny. Security details generally include a mix of troops and JCOs.It was on Monday morning that Madras Regiment officers noticed the armoury door was open. Some of the boxes in which the weapons had been stored had been broken into. A verification of records confirmed that the weapons were missing.“The weapons/ammunition were last physically accounted for on Aug 30, 2026, at 6 pm, prior to closing of KOTE (Keeper of Technical Equipment, or armoury) and Battalion Magazine. The circumstances and the exact time of disappearance/theft are presently not known,” the Army’s complaint said.Bollaram police registered an FIR for house break-in. Officers said such a crime could only have involved insiders, given the security around armouries.“Every single part of a rifle is accounted for after the weapon is taken out of the armoury and brought back. Under such circumstances, stealing a weapon is not possible without insider help. A number of persons are being questioned,” a source close to the investigation said.Telangana police’s counter-intelligence sleuths have also swung into action.As part of the investigation, the Army on Tuesday sealed civilian access to the entire military establishment from all sides.Rashtrapati Nilayam, the official winter residence of the President of India, is also located in the restricted Bollarum area.Sources told TOI that the ammunition strongroom is accessed by both Army personnel and civilian housekeeping staff. The area is guarded round the clock by armed personnel working in shifts.The theft took place when only a few guards were on duty. How the accused managed to move the weapons out of the area remains a mystery. Sources said that although the armoury has a CCTV camera at the entrance, security guards switch it off at night.
