Secunderabad, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : A retired soldier has been arrested in connection with a significant theft of weapons and ammunition from the Madras Regiment’s arsenal in Secunderabad last month. The suspect, identified as Upputhola Mallesh, had previously served as a havildar in the 20th Battalion of the Madras Regiment.
Mallesh was apprehended by the Bolaram police in a joint operation with the Hyderabad Task Force and the Special Operations Team of the Malkajgiri Commissionerate. Police Chief C.V. Anand announced at a press conference that all stolen weapons and ammunition had been recovered.
The seized items include four AK-203 assault rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle and its three magazines, six 9mm pistols and their twelve magazines, a 6.35 bore pistol with its magazine, a night vision binocular, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition for the various firearms.
This case has drawn considerable attention, as such a large-scale theft of weapons and ammunition is unprecedented in the area. A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at the Bolaram police station.
Initial investigations suggest that Mallesh’s dissatisfaction with his premature retirement from the army may have motivated the theft. While he appears to have acted alone, authorities are continuing to investigate any potential accomplices.
DGP Anand indicated that there is currently little evidence linking Mallesh to arms traffickers, although military officials will further examine this possibility. The 37-year-old Mallesh executed the theft during the night of August 30 and 31.
A resident of Jungamreddipally village in the Nagarkurnool district, Mallesh joined the army in 2010, serving for 16 years before retiring on June 30 of this year due to disciplinary issues and health concerns.
Anand noted that Telangana police treated this incident as a major challenge, attributing the successful resolution to the coordinated efforts of the Malkajgiri police zone, the Hyderabad City police Task Force, and state intelligence agencies.
The investigation indicates that the theft was likely an inside job, as gaining access to the arsenal would be extremely difficult for an outsider. Evidence from the scene also points to an internal conspiracy.
Investigators compiled a list of individuals with access to the weapons storage, initially focusing on two staff members responsible for the arms and ammunition. However, questioning them yielded no substantial leads.
Further scrutiny identified several personnel with access, including members of the headquarters core, ammunition core, and a Quick Reaction Team, as well as various contractors and recently retired staff. All were placed under surveillance.
DGP Anand revealed that intelligence agencies analyzed approximately 850,000 mobile numbers. As leads dwindled, the investigation shifted to explore connections with drug trafficking and national security concerns.
Through technical analysis, mobile forensics, CCTV footage, fingerprinting, and call tracking, investigators narrowed their focus onto two recently retired individuals, one of whom was Mallesh. His actions from August 27 to the date of the theft raised suspicions, particularly as they did not align with his statements.
On September 7, he was brought to the Nagarkurnool police station but failed to provide information about his activities. His absence during subsequent questioning further deepened suspicions against him.
A search of Mallesh’s mobile phone revealed that he had deleted all chat and call records. On October 10, while being transported to the Hyderabad Task Force office, he confessed to the crime.
Investigators discovered that Mallesh had conducted reconnaissance on the arsenal from August 27 to 29. On the night of August 30, he broke into the facility and stole the weapons and ammunition.
He concealed the items about two kilometers away at a temple, later returning to retrieve a magazine cover he had forgotten. He returned home around 4:33 AM and placed the magazine cover in a car. After loading the weapons, he departed for Achampet, hiding the items near his home.
On September 6, he moved the weapons to another location within the same district but returned them to the original hiding spot on September 8. Following his confession, police recovered all stolen weapons and ammunition.
Leave a Comment