Seven more arrested over theft of Army firearms, ammunition in Bolarum

Seven more persons, including three serving Madras Regiment personnel and two alleged arms dealers from West Bengal, have been arrested over the theft of firearms and ammunition from the Army’s 20 Battalion at Bolarum. Police said no extremist links had emerged.

Hyderabad: Seven more persons, including three serving personnel of the Madras Regiment and two alleged arms dealers from West Bengal, have been arrested in connection with the theft of firearms and ammunition from Army’s 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment at Bolarum.

The theft was reported on August 31 after the locks of the Kote and Magazine Room were found broken. Enquiries then revealed that four AK-203 rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle with three magazines, six 9 mm pistols with 12 magazines, a 6.35-bore civilian pistol, three binoculars and large quantities of ammunition were missing.

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The prime suspect, Upputholla Mallesh alias Raju, (37), a retired Havildar of the 20 Battalion, was arrested on September 11. “During his police custody, investigators allegedly found he had planned the theft with Konduri Sheshulu, Vinod Kumar and Kucharakanti Praveen, all personnel associated with the Madras Regiment,” said Malkajgiri Commissioner, B Sumathi.

The police said Mallesh, along with his cousin Upputholla Mallikarjun and friend Chemmakar Niranjan, had allegedly planned to use the stolen firearms to rob banks, jewellery shops and wealthy persons. Mallesh is also alleged to have contacted Avi Dey alias Obi and Birbal Shaw of West Bengal, who agreed to purchase the weapons.

According to police, Obi offered Rs 3 lakh for each pistol and Rs 5 lakh for each long weapon, besides payment for ammunition. With the alleged assistance of Sheshulu, Vinod Kumar and Praveen, Mallesh allegedly broke open the locks and stole the weapons and ammunition.

The police apart from the stolen weapons also recovered a country-made firearm and a live round allegedly purchased by Mallesh in 2022 for Rs 10,000 through Shaw from Obi while Mallesh was posted at Barrackpore.

The seven accused — Sheshulu, Vinod Kumar, Praveen, Obi, Shaw, Mallikarjun and Niranjan — are being produced before the court for judicial remand. Police said no terrorist or extremist links had emerged in the investigation and the alleged motive was to use the firearms for property offences.