Secunderabad Cantonment Arms Theft: Police Suspect Insider Role
Police suspect an inside job in the theft of 12 weapons and ammunition from Secunderabad Cantonment, citing round-the-clock guards and a missed alarm.
Investigators believe the theft of a significant cache of weapons from the high-security Secunderabad Cantonment near Hyderabad was orchestrated by someone with internal access, according to police sources.
The missing inventory includes four AK-203 assault rifles, seven pistols, one INSAS rifle, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and a pair of passive night-vision binoculars. The theft is believed to have occurred within a 12-hour window between 6 pm on August 30 and 6 am on August 31.
The crime came to light when the armoury and ammunition storage were opened the following morning and broken door locks were discovered. A Telangana police officer involved in the investigation stated, "It's most definitely an inside job."
Authorities are focusing on defence personnel who had access to the kote, or armoury. Three key factors point to an internal hand: the armoury is guarded around the clock, Army guards were on duty at the time, and the manual alarm was never raised.
"We have so far questioned some defence personnel in connection with the case. We are questioning why the guards did not notice the crime or why they were feigning ignorance," a police officer said. Those questioned include both veteran and younger personnel.
Sources noted that vehicles moved in and out of the cantonment during the suspected timeframe. A formal complaint was lodged with police on the assumption that the arms may have already left the premises and are now with unauthorised individuals.
The weapons were reportedly taken from a store room belonging to the 20 Madras Regiment. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for trespass and theft of government property.
Major Probal DasGupta, an Army veteran and strategic commentator, described the incident as a "serious, unusual issue." He noted that an external break-in going unnoticed until morning is unlikely given the constant guarding. "The Army has laid down procedures for issue and return of weapons from the kote. Going by its past practice, the Army is expected to take this theft seriously," he said, adding that clarity is expected after the inquiry.