Four pistols lost from armoury, probe ordered

Four pistols have gone missing from an Army armoury at Dehra Dun and the Army has ordered a court of inquiry to probe the incident, the Army sources have confirmed. The loss of the pistols was detected after authorities at the arm-oury found that the seal on the lock of the armoury was broken. Army sources said that the Dehra Dun police had already lodged an FIR in the case. The four pistols are of 9 mm calibre and of Indian make, sources said.

The Army sources expressed concern over the loss of the pistols since these could be misused. Investigations will also probe whether this was a theft executed with the help of insiders in the armoury establishment. The armoury is located in the Dehra Dun cantonment area, officials said. The armoury from which the pistols went missing stocks “small arms”. The loss of the pistols was detected sometime last month, officials said.

The loss of pistols from an Army armoury right under the nose of the authorities there is being viewed seriously by the Army headquarters. The investigation is also likely to probe whether the pistols were smuggled out by insiders from the armoury in return for a consideration.

The illegal trade in arms is a flourishing industry in parts of the country and the Army is keen to ensure that incidents like this are not repeated, sources said.