Four Army personnel have been apprehended in connection with the seizure of service weapons from the Madras Regiment premises at Bolarum. Police are purportedly investigating potential terror or organized crime connections and insider assistance in the process of locating the missing weapons.



Hyderabad: The Malkajgiri police have apprehended four individuals, all of whom are Army personnel, in a significant development in the investigation into the seizure of service weapons from the Madras Regiment premises at Bolarum in Secunderabad.

According to reports, the police have retrieved approximately 1,200 rounds of ammunition, INSAS rifles, and AK-47/AK-series rifles from a concealed location in Hyderabad. Nevertheless, the recovery has not been officially validated by officials, who have cited technical issues.

According to reports, the robbery is believed to have been orchestrated by a former officer who was affiliated with the Madras Regiment.

According to a senior police officer who is involved in the investigation, "We have made a significant progress and apprehended several suspects." All of them are either serving or retired Army personnel, as well as those who provided them with external assistance. They are being interrogated to determine the motivation.

The official indicated that additional arrests may occur contingent upon the investigation's conclusion and additional evidence.

As the weapons were removed from a restricted Army storage facility, investigators had been investigating the potential for insider assistance from the outset.

The case has evolved into a multi-agency investigation that includes the NIA, Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence, Army authorities, and Bolarum police. Officials are currently investigating potential connections to organized crime, extremism, or terror.

The theft was discovered on August 31 by Army personnel who discovered the armory locks to be broken. Five assault rifles, seven pistols, 21 magazines, and ammunition, in addition to a night-vision device, were AWOL, according to preliminary findings.

Several security lapses have been identified by investigators, such as the alleged nightly switching off of CCTV cameras between 10:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. An internal inquiry has been initiated by Army authorities to ascertain the individual or individuals who authorized or facilitated the closure.

Personnel who have access to the arsenal, including those who have recently been transferred, are currently being interviewed, and their communication patterns and call records are being examined. Additionally, the police are conducting an examination of CCTV footage from the vicinity, which includes footage that purportedly depicts a motorcycle in close proximity to the facility at the time of the theft.

The recovery and tracing of the missing weapons are being prioritized by the authorities due to the potential security threat they pose if they remain unaccounted for.