160 detonators found in Secunderabad; police say no link with Army armoury heist
Hyderabad, Sep 3 (IANS) As many as 160 electric detonators were found at Bollarum in Secunderabad on Thursday but police have clarified that this was not related to the Army or the recent theft of firearms from the Army establishment.
The detonators were reportedly found behind the wall of the firing range of the 20 Madras Regiment Army Camp under the limits of Bollarum Police Station of Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
Police teams along with bomb disposal squad and sniffer dog reached the spot and found a plastic bucket, containing eight bundles of 20 detonators each. Their value was estimated to be Rs 32,000.
Police seized the detonators and took up an investigation.
However, Malkajgiri Police clarified that the detonators were found in a private venture and not in the Army area. They suspect that land or plot developers were using them at least before one year or above.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ch. Sridhar said a case has been registered and further investigation was on.
He clarified that this was not at all related to the Army or the present case. Any developments in the Army case will be informed officially, he said.
The DCP was referring to the theft of weapons and ammunition from the 20 Madras Regiment premises at Bollarum.
Twelve firearms, including four AK-203 assault rifles, an INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and a civilian 6.35-bore pistol, were reported missing from the 20 Madras Regiment premises at Bollarum. A passive night-vision binocular, 21 magazines and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition were also reportedly missing from the Army establishment.
The theft came to light on the morning of August 31, when Army personnel opened the Kote and Battalion Magazine, where weapons and ammunition were stored. They found that the locks of the premises and the boxes containing the weapons, control stores and ammunition had been broken.
A First Information Report (FIR) registered with Bollarum Police Station stated that the weapons and ammunition had last been physically accounted for at about 6 p.m. on August 30, before the Kote and Battalion Magazine were closed.
A case has been registered case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Army officials have ordered an internal enquiry and questioned guard-duty personnel who were on duty when the weapons went missing. Military Intelligence officials are also investigating.
The reported theft has triggered high alert in the Secunderabad cantonment area. Defence organisations have sent alerts asking personnel to remain vigilant, while schools located inside the cantonment have been advised to take classes online as a precautionary measure.
–IANS
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