3 hrs ago
Retired Army Havaldar Held in Telangana Armoury Heist
Police arrested a former Army soldier after weapons were stolen from an armoury in Telangana.
The armoury belonged to the 20 Battalion of the Madras Regiment in Bolarum.
Police say the theft happened during the night of August 30 and 31.
The stolen items included rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment, and many rounds of ammunition.
Investigators believe the suspect had knowledge of the facility because he had served there.
Police say he studied the armoury beforehand and moved the weapons using a motorcycle and a car.
Officers examined about 8.5 lakh mobile numbers and questioned many people connected to the facility.
All the stolen weapons and ammunition were recovered.
Police are still investigating whether anyone else helped and why the theft occurred.
Police arrested 37-year-old retired Havaldar Upputholla Mallesh over the theft.
The weapons were stolen from the 20 Battalion Madras Regiment armoury in Bolarum.
The cache included AK-203 and INSAS rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment, and ammunition.
Investigators analysed about 8.5 lakh mobile numbers and questioned people with facility access.
Police recovered the entire cache; Mallesh was remanded to judicial custody as inquiries continue.
- Who
- Police arrested Upputholla Mallesh, a 37-year-old retired Havaldar of the Madras Regiment's 20 Battalion.
- What
- He allegedly broke into the regiment's armoury and stole weapons and ammunition, which were later recovered.
- Where
- The theft occurred at the Kote and Magazine of the 20 Battalion Madras Regiment in Bolarum, Secunderabad Cantonment; the weapons were moved to Nagarkurnool district.
- When
- The theft allegedly occurred during the intervening night of August 30 and 31; Mallesh was arrested in September.
- Why
- Police said the preliminary motive appeared to be disgruntlement over his early retirement, while the investigation continues.
Key facts
- Accused
- Upputholla Mallesh, also known as Malesh alias Raju
- Age
- 37
- Stolen weapons
- Four AK-203 rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols, and one 6.35-bore pistol
- Other equipment
- A passive night-vision binocular and multiple magazines
- Ammunition
- 1,156 rounds for 9 mm pistols, 720 AK-203 rounds, and INSAS ammunition
- Investigation
- About 8.5 lakh mobile numbers were analysed, alongside forensic, CCTV, fingerprint, and call-data reviews
- Status
- The entire cache was recovered and Mallesh was remanded to judicial custody
Quotes
C.V. Anand
Telangana Director General of Police who announced the arrest and recovery
“Prima facie, it appeared to be the work of an insider because others having access to the area were quite remote, and the way it happened, after checking the scene, it showed that there had to be some conspiracy from inside”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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