Hyderabad: A total of 12 firearms, including four AK-203 assault rifles, one INSAS rifle and six 9 mm pistols, have reportedly gone missing from an Army armoury in the Secunderabad Cantonment area, in Telangana.
The theft was discovered by Army personnel around on August 31 when they opened the armoury. The personnel found the locks broken and boxes tampered with.
The missing weapons include four AK-203 assault rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and a pistol. More than 1,800 rounds of live ammunition and a passive night-vision binocular were also reported missing.
A formal First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Bollaram Police Station. Given the heavily restricted nature of the facility, senior investigators are strongly suspecting an insider job or the involvement of someone with authorised access.
Following the incident, the entire Secunderabad Cantonment area has been placed on high alert.
Recently, another security-related incident was reported from Tamil Nadu, where a Jharkhand youth, identified as Usman Ladin, was detained in Coonoor on August 25 after allegedly producing a fake Army identity card and claiming to be a training officer associated with the Wellington Military College.
The Army reportedly verified the card and found it to be forged. Police registered a case and launched a probe into his movements, motive and possible links. The incident raised security concerns as Coonoor is located close to the sensitive Wellington Military Cantonment, which houses the Defence Services Staff College.
