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Inside Bolarum’s military landscape, 12 missing firearms and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition remain at the centre of an investigation a week after the theft came to light.
The premises of the 20 Madras Regiment are located in a relatively quiet, green stretch of the cantonment, away from much of the traffic and construction that mark Hyderabad’s expanding landscape. But the location of the theft presents investigators with a more complicated question: how did someone identify and reach the rooms holding the weapons inside a large military complex that houses multiple regiments?
Police suspect that the theft may have involved people with a good knowledge of the premises. There is no board or other visible indication identifying the armoury, and the scene of the offence is located almost in the middle of the premises. There are six to eight entry and exit points to the premises, according to investigators.
The arms and ammunition belonging to the Madras Regiment are kept in separate rooms, around 50 metres apart. Police suspect that the fact that ammunition was specifically taken from the arms storage area points to prior knowledge of where the weapons and ammunition were kept. Investigators are examining how the two locations were accessed and how the theft could have been carried out without being detected.
The Madras Regiment is one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army. The Ministry of Defence traces its origin to December 4, 1758, when two battalions were raised by Robert Clive. The regiment subsequently served in several military operations, including the two World Wars and post-Independence conflicts. Its Regimental Centre is at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, having moved there in 1947. The 20 Madras Regiment at Bolarum is a battalion of the regiment.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the premises on Saturday (September 5, 2026), as the Army, Military Intelligence and Telangana police continued their probe. No weapons have been recovered, and no formal arrests have been made so far.
The weapons were last physically accounted for at around 6 p.m. on August 30. The discrepancy came to light at about 7:50 a.m. on August 31, when personnel opened the Kote and Battalion Magazine and found the locks and storage boxes broken.
The missing cache comprises four AK-203 assault rifles, an INSAS 1B1 rifle, six 9 mm Auto 1A pistols and a civilian 6.35-bore pistol. A passive night-vision binocular, 21 magazines and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition were also reported missing. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at ₹15 lakh. An officer close to the investigation said the firearms and ammunition could command a much higher price on the black market.
Bolarum police booked the case on August 31 on a complaint from Lt. Col. Mayank Govitirkar, Adjutant of the 20 Madras Regiment.
The Army is re-verifying its records and holdings, examining the storage areas and adjoining premises, and questioning personnel who had authorised access. Given the nature of the missing weapons and ammunition, much of the investigation is being conducted within the defence area and details have been kept confidential.
Published – September 08, 2026 11:01 am IST
