Hyd armoury heist: Fired ex-Armyman may have stolen weapons for ‘revenge’

HYDERABAD: A retired havildar who had been fired from his post-retirement job in June by the Army for indiscipline, single-handedly stole 12 military grade weapons and ammunition from the Madras Regiment armoury at Bollarum on Aug 30 night. Officers said he carried the guns out of the heavily guarded cantonment on his Activa scooter.Senior police officers said on Friday that the ex-serviceman, 37-year-old Upputholla Mallesh, who was upset with his superiors after being fired, is believed to have stolen the weapons, including five assault rifles and seven pistols, as a form of revenge. However, investigators said the real motive still needs to be probed.Investigators said the case was cracked after Mallesh’s wife and father-in-law were questioned by the investigators. The wife later confronted the accused about the theft and forced him to surrender before the authorities. Mallesh also helped the police recover the weapons.