Schools shut, high alert after AK-47s stolen from Secunderabad Army facility

Weapons and ammunition were reportedly stolen from the Madras Regiment in the Secunderabad cantonment area, prompting an internal inquiry by the Army and a police investigation.

Army officials suspected that the weapons could fall into the hands of anti-social elements, potentially leading to unforeseen incidents. The Army authorities conveyed these concerns to the government, and as a precautionary measure, the Telangana government has ordered schools in the Secunderabad cantonment area to conduct online classes until further orders.

What FIR says

The theft came to light on Monday (August 31) when Army personnel opened the 'Kote and Battalion Magazine' (ammunition storage) at around 7:50 am and found that the locks and boxes containing weapons and ammunition had been broken open.

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Based on a complaint lodged by a senior military officer, the Bollaram police registered a case and have begun an investigation. Police officials are examining details of all personnel who had accessed the armoury in the days preceding the theft.

According to the FIR, 12 firearms were reported missing. The missing weapons included four AK-47 rifles, one INSAS rifle, nine 9 mm pistols and a civilian 6.35-bore pistol. Twenty-one magazines and a night-vision binoculars set were also reported missing.

More than 1,800 rounds of ammunition were reportedly unaccounted for. These included 720 rounds meant for AK-47 rifles and 1,120 rounds for 9 mm pistols, besides ammunition for the INSAS rifle, tracer rounds and blank rounds.

The Army officials had last conducted an inventory of the weapons and ammunition at around 6 pm on August 30. The exact time of the theft is yet to be established, though preliminary information suggests that it could have occurred during the intervening night of August 30 and 31.

Following the discovery, the Army conducted another inventory of the weapons and ammunition and searched the storage area and its surroundings. Registers were examined and personnel authorised to access the armoury were questioned. Some areas of the premises were sealed and an internal inquiry was initiated.

Police investigation

Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B Sumathi inspected the weapons room where the theft took place. She later announced that special teams had been formed to investigate the case. Sumathi said investigators were examining whether the theft occurred in a single incident or in stages, and whether anyone from within the Army was involved.

Police have raised several suspicions over how the thieves managed to break open the locks of a room containing weapons in an area protected by highly stringent military security. Sumathi said investigators were also looking into the possibility of involvement by personnel from within the premises.

As part of the probe, a special team is questioning 12 staff members, she said. Fingerprints and other evidence were being collected from the scene, she added.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Telangana)