Retired Army havildar arrested for stealing firearms from Bolarum battalion

A retired Army havildar was arrested for allegedly stealing rifles, pistols, ammunition and other equipment from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, at Bolarum. Police recovered the stolen arms and ammunition from Kowkoor, Yapral and Achampet in Telangana

Hyderabad: A retired Army havildar was arrested on Friday for allegedly stealing firearms and ammunition from the Kote and Magazine rooms of the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, at Bolarum.

The accused was identified as Upputholla Mallesh (37), a resident of Jangam Reddy Pally in Amrabad, Nagarkurnool. He had joined the Indian Army in 2010 and served for 16 years before retiring on June 30 this year.

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According to Telangana DGP CV Anand, Mallesh allegedly entered the 20 Battalion premises around 11 p.m. on the intervening night of August 30 and 31 and stole several firearms, magazines, ammunition and a passive night-vision binocular.

The stolen arms included four AK-203 rifles, one 5.56 mm INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and a civilian 6.35-bore pistol. Police also recovered 1,156 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 720 rounds of AK-203 ammunition and INSAS ammunition, besides magazines and other equipment.

Acting on the information, teams from Bolarum police, the Hyderabad Task Force and the SOT, Malkajgiri, traced Mallesh and recovered the stolen arms and ammunition from locations in Kowkoor, Yapral and Achampet in Nagarkurnool district.

Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that disgruntlement over his early retirement could have prompted the theft. Mallesh was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.