Thirty-two licensed weapons deposited for safekeeping at the Sector 8 police station armoury in Faridabad have been reported missing, prompting the suspension of the in-charge officer and a departmental inquiry. The missing firearms include foreign-made weapons valued between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh each.
Discovery and Initial Investigation
The discrepancy came to light during a routine inspection of the malkhana (armoury). An initial count showed only 13 weapons missing, but a subsequent thorough investigation revealed that 32 firearms were unaccounted for. Senior police officials then ordered an inquiry, which confirmed the shortage.
Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta suspended the armoury in-charge, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Bijendra Singh, and registered a theft case against him. The weapons had been deposited by local residents for safekeeping and were meant to be returned to their licensed owners when required.
Concerns Over Weapon Recovery
Police sources indicate that the missing weapons, several of which are foreign-made, may have been sold in Rajasthan, Noida, and other parts of the Delhi-NCR region. However, no official statement has been issued yet. The police are investigating the matter with extreme confidentiality.
The biggest challenge now is recovering the weapons before they are used in criminal activities. If misused, the police could face serious questions. Commissioner Gupta stated, “The matter is under investigation. Whoever played a role in the theft of the weapons will not be spared.”
