Retired Army havildar held for stealing rifles, pistols, ammunition from Madras Regiment in Hyderabad

A retired Army havildar was arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly stealing rifles, pistols and ammunition from the Madras Regiment’s Bolarum unit. Police said Upputholla Mallesh, dismissed from service in June, broke into the armoury and concealed the weapons near his home before being tracked down.

Hyderabad: An aggrieved 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 suspect 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 being dismissed from service on June 30 on health and disciplinary grounds.

---

According to Telangana DGP CV Anand, Mallesh on the night of August 30, entered the Army premises through the Kargil Gate on his motorcycle. He reached the room where the firearms were kept, broke open the lock, and removed the weapons one by one. He spent nearly an hour breaking open the ammunition booth lock.

“Raju collected ammunition boxes corresponding to the AK-series weapons and pistols. He loaded the ammunition boxes on his vehicle and carried the weapons to a temple about 2-km away, where he temporarily concealed them. He later returned to the Army premises after realising that magazine covers had been left behind. A guard reportedly questioned him as he entered, but he proceeded inside, collected the remaining magazines and left,” said Anand.

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.

He then transferred the magazine bag and weapons into a car, returned to the temple and loaded the weapons kept there. He subsequently drove towards Achampet, deliberately avoiding the Srisailam route because of toll gates.

At Achampet, he concealed the weapons and ammunition in a grassy area near his house, covering them with grass and other material. The police after questioning close to 100 persons zeroed in on Mallesh, and after questioning him several times, cracked the case. After his arrest, the weapons were recovered.

Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that disgruntlement over his early retirement could have prompted the theft.