New Delhi: Twelve Indian Army firearms and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition have been stolen from a military facility in Bollarum, Secunderabad, triggering a security alert across the cantonment. The missing cache includes assault rifles, pistols and ammunition that were held inside the premises of the 20 Madras Regiment.
The theft came to light around 7.50am on Monday after Army personnel reached the facility and found the locks and storage boxes forcibly broken. The unit then began a detailed check of its weapons, ammunition and related records to determine the extent of the loss.
The stolen items include four AK-203 assault rifles, one Insas rifle, six 9mm pistols and a civilian 6.35-bore pistol. Twenty-one magazines and a passive night-vision binocular are also missing, with the value of the stolen property estimated at around ₹15 lakh.
The weapons and ammunition had last been physically accounted for at around 6pm on Sunday, before the secured storage areas were closed. Investigators are examining the period between that check and the discovery of the theft the following morning. The four AK-203 rifles were reported missing with five magazines, while the Insas rifle was missing with three magazines. The six 9mm pistols were accompanied by 12 magazines, while the civilian pistol had one magazine.
The missing ammunition includes 720 rounds for the AK-203 rifles and 1,120 rounds intended for the 9mm pistols. Eleven Insas ball rounds, five tracer rounds and 20 blank rounds are also listed, although the quantity of 9mm ammunition was still being ascertained.
The Hindu reported that the theft has prompted additional security measures in the Secunderabad cantonment. Defence organizations have issued alerts asking personnel to remain vigilant, while schools inside the cantonment have been advised to conduct classes online as a precaution.
Army authorities have since rechecked the complete weapon and ammunition inventory and examined the relevant accounting records. Issue-and-receipt registers were checked, while personnel with authorized access to the storage and custody areas were identified and questioned.
The facility was locked down and senior leadership notified through a chain of command. An internal investigation has also been launched into how the storage area was accessed and whether any security personnel were involved.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the break-in, including the security arrangements and movements of staff around the site. CCTV footage and other available records are also being checked, while the possibility of involvement by someone with authorized access remains under investigation.
The Army has sought urgent police action to recover the stolen firearms and ammunition and identify those responsible. Investigators are treating the recovery as a priority because the missing service weapons could be unauthorizedly possessed, moved or misused.
Bollarum police have registered a case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and handed the investigation to a detective inspector. Malkajgiri police have indicated that an official statement on the incident is expected.