32 weapons missing from Haryana police armoury. File photo: ANI
As many as 32 licensed weapons, including several expensive foreign-made firearms, have gone missing from the police armoury at a police station in Haryana’s Faridabad, triggering a criminal investigation and the suspension of the malkhana in-charge, PTI reported, citing officials.According to PTI, the missing weapons were kept under police custody at the Sector Eight police station after their owners voluntarily deposited them for safekeeping. Following an internal inquiry, a theft case was registered against malkhana in-charge ASI Bijendra Singh, who has since been suspended by Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated.Police sources told the news agency that the missing cache includes several foreign-made pistols valued between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. Investigators suspect some of the weapons may have been sold in Rajasthan and the Delhi-NCR region, although police have not issued an official statement on the claim.The discrepancy surfaced during a routine inspection. An initial audit indicated that 13 weapons were missing, but a subsequent detailed verification found that the number had risen to 32.Following the discovery, senior police officials ordered a detailed probe, which confirmed the disappearance of all 32 weapons. Sources further said the investigating team had been instructed by senior officers to prevent information related to the case from being leaked while efforts to trace the missing firearms continue.Commenting on the investigation, Faridabad police commissioner said, “The matter is under investigation. Whoever played a role in the theft of the weapons will not be spared.”
