No CCTV, NO guards at the time of theft; Secunderabad Cantonment incident raises alarm

Military bases in Kashmir and Punjab are often perennial targets of terrorist attacks. Pakistani terrorists have been vying to inflict major devastation on Indian military bases for years. India has been diligent in their efforts to make military bases highly secure. But the theft of weapons in Secunderabad Cantonment raises serious questions about the security of the country's military bases. The incident of theft of sophisticated guns and thousands of bullets from the armoury under the Madras Regiment poses a challenge to the internal security of the country.

The CCTV systems going kaput at the time of the theft and the low number of guards deployed give signs of a serious coup. It can be reasonably assumed that such an arms heist would not have taken place without the connivance of those at the military base. Along with the investigation, it is also imperative to find who received the weapons. The possibility that these weapons could have ended up in the hands of terrorist groups trying to disrupt the peace of the country cannot be ruled out.

Initial reports suggest that 12 guns, 21 magazines, around 1,800 rounds of ammunition and binoculars that can be used at night were stolen by breaking the lock of the armoury. Four AK-203 rifles were also stolen. The AK-203 is the fourth generation of the AK-47. The robbery was reported at 7.50 am on Monday. The locks of the main door and the boxes with weapons were broken. It was confirmed by counting at 6 pm on Sunday that all the weapons were there. The police have registered an FIR and started an investigation on the complaint of a Lieutenant Colonel of the Madras Regiment, stationed at Ballarat in Secunderabad Cantonment. Army also announced an internal investigation into the case.

A joint investigation by the country's major investigative agencies is needed in this regard. About six staff members of the military base, including the gunmen, have been arrested in connection with the theft. A vigilance order has also been issued in the area. The authorities are monitoring the CCTV footage of the area and the movements of the suspects. The initial probe suggests that the theft was well planned and executed with precision. If these weapons end up in the hands of anti-national forces, the consequences will be drastic. It should also be investigated whether there was an international conspiracy behind the theft of weapons.

This incident should serve as a wake-up call to review the security arrangements at our strategic military bases and rectify the shortcomings. The fact that a military arsenal was broken into and stolen despite such advanced technology is a clear indication of the shortcomings in our security arrangements. Those responsible for this lapse should be given exemplary punishment. At the same time, surveillance should be strengthened in other cantonments in the country.