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Eight arrested in Secunderabad military weapon theft

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-13 11:38 UTC → 2026-10-03 10:36 UTC · added removed

Weapon theft and arrests at Eight arrested in Secunderabad military facility weapon theft

A major security breach occurred at the Madras Regiment facility in the Secunderabad Cantonment, Telangana, where a cache of military weapons and ammunition was stolen. The theft, discovered on August 31, involved the breaking of locks on weapons storage rooms and ammunition boxes. Stolen items included AK-203 or AK-47 assault rifles, an INSAS rifle, seven pistols, 21 magazines, night vision equipment, and approximately 1,912 rounds of ammunition. During searches, Army personnel discovered 160 commercial electric detonators on private land near Golf Enclave, behind the regiment’s firing range. The Bollarum police registered a case under the Explosive Substances Act, and bomb disposal squads were deployed. Following a coordinated operation involving Military Intelligence and the Telangana Police Task Force, authorities arrested 37-year-old retired Army Havildar Upputholla Mallesh. Investigators determined the theft was an “inside job” motivated by Mallesh’s While initial investigations suggested Mallesh may have acted alone due to resentment regarding his premature retirement earlier this year. retirement, subsequent developments have identified him as the mastermind of a larger conspiracy. Police have since arrested eight individuals in connection with the heist, including accomplices Praveen, Vinod, and Seshu. Investigators revealed that Mallesh, who served for 16 years previously handled armoury duties, allegedly planned the theft after joining in 2010, has been granted seven days of police custody being inspired by a Secunderabad court. crime-based web series. He reportedly conducted reconnaissance of the facility, monitoring CCTV cameras, lighting, and soldier movements. While all the stolen items were arsenal was recovered from the suspect’s residence hidden in Nagarkurnool and the outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana Director General gunny bags, Malkajgiri Commissioner of Police C. V. Anand B. Sumathi stated that investigators are still looking into whether Mallesh acted alone the investigation has found “no links to terrorism or if accomplices were involved in hiding extremist groups.” Instead, the weapons. motive appears to have been the use of the firearms for major property crimes. Findings from the interrogation will be shared with the Indian Army and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The investigation also highlighted irregularities in the armoury’s record-keeping, which had not been regularly updated for several months.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-03 10:36 UTC Eight arrested in Secunderabad military weapon theft
  2. 2026-09-13 11:38 UTC Weapon theft and arrests at Secunderabad military facility
  3. 2026-09-12 07:31 UTC Weapon theft and arrests at Secunderabad military facility
  4. 2026-09-11 10:05 UTC Weapon theft and arrests at Secunderabad military facility
  5. 2026-09-03 12:59 UTC Weapon theft at Secunderabad military facility

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