Agniveers among four detained after 12 weapons stolen from Secunderabad Army armoury
A high-security breach occurred at the Madras Regiment armoury in Secunderabad Cantonment. Twelve sophisticated firearms and hundreds of ammunition rounds were stolen from the facility. Military authorities have detained four individuals, includin...
By ET Online |
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Security personnel inspect an Indian Army establishment in Secunderabad following the theft of 12 firearms, where Agniveers and staff were questioned. (Representational Image)
A high-security breach at the Madras Regiment’s armoury in the Bollarum area of Secunderabad Cantonment, Hyderabad, has left the local Army establishment reeling following the theft of 12 sophisticated firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The crime occurred late Sunday night while the battalion's primary force- including its commanding officer and senior leadership- was away for field firing at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan, leaving a lieutenant colonel (the unit's second-in-command) in charge. Officers discovered the breach on Monday morning after finding the armoury door open and several weapon storage boxes forced open.
By Tuesday afternoon, military authorities had detained four individuals, including civilian staff and personnel recruited under the Agniveer scheme. Telangana Police counter-intelligence units have joined the investigation, and the Bollaram police have filed an FIR for house break-in.
Given standard military protocols, investigators suspect significant insider involvement. Armouries follow strict standard operating procedures with 24/7 armed guards—comprising troops and JCOs—and continuous tracking of every equipment component. However, sources revealed that security guards routinely turn off the CCTV camera at the entrance at night. In response to the breach, the Army has sealed all civilian access points to the Bollarum military establishment, which also houses Rashtrapati Nilayam, the official winter residence of the President of India.
Official statements & records
According to the complaint submitted to the police by a Madras Regiment officer:
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“In view of the nature of the missing articles, particularly the service weapons and ammunition, there is a possibility of their unauthorised possession, misuse or movement.”
The complaint further noted:
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“The weapons/ammunition were last physically accounted for on Aug 30, 2026, at 6 pm, prior to closing of KOTE (Keeper of Technical Equipment, or armoury) and Battalion Magazine. The circumstances and the exact time of disappearance/theft are presently not known.”
Confirming the internal probe, a senior Army officer stated to TOI:
“A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the matter and find out the exact motive behind this act and the sequence of events.”
The officer added regarding the inquiry process:
“The records of personnel deployed on duty on the day of the incident and in the last few weeks will also be checked and verified. Their military records and credibility will be closely examined by the inquiry panel.”
Police confirmed the weapons were smuggled out of the heavily fortified zone, though it remained unconfirmed by late Tuesday whether any of the missing firearms had been recovered.
