12 Weapons Stolen from Madras Regiment Armoury in Secunderabad Cantonment

Four people, including recruits under the Agniveer scheme and civilian staff, have been detained after 12 sophisticated weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were stolen from the Madras Regiment's armoury at Bollarum in Secunderabad Cantonment.

The theft occurred late on Sunday night in the high-security cantonment area and was discovered on Monday morning when officers found the armoury door open and storage boxes broken into. The missing cache comprises four AK-203 assault rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Following the discovery, Bollaram police registered a First Information Report for house break-in, while Telangana police counter-intelligence sleuths also joined the investigation. A formal complaint lodged by an officer of the Madras Regiment highlighted concerns over the potential unauthorised possession, misuse, or movement of the stolen military weapons and ammunition.

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry to establish the sequence of events and determine the motive behind the breach. Military authorities sealed civilian access to the surrounding military establishment from all sides on Tuesday as search and investigative operations intensified.

The incident took place while the main body of the battalion, including the commanding officer and senior officers, was away at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan for field firing. The unit's second-in-command, a lieutenant colonel, was in charge of the base at the time.

According to the Army's complaint, the weapons and ammunition were last physically accounted for on August 30 at 6:00 pm prior to the closing of the armoury, known as the Keeper of Technical Equipment (KOTE), and the Battalion Magazine.

Investigators noted that moving weapons out of the heavily monitored area indicated potential insider involvement, as armouries are subjected to strict standard operating procedures. The ammunition strongroom is guarded around the clock by armed personnel and accessed by both military staff and civilian housekeeping workers. Inquiry officials are verifying duty rosters and the credibility records of all personnel assigned to the location in recent weeks.