Navy Agniveer, Brother Held in Telangana for Rifle, Ammo Theft

Mumbai Police have apprehended two brothers, including a serving Indian Navy Agniveer, in Telangana for stealing a rifle and ammunition from the fortified Navy Nagar area in south Mumbai. The incident raises concerns about security protocols in sensitive military zones, with authorities recovering the stolen items and probing the suspects' motives.

This case highlights vulnerabilities in high-security environments, even as India's defence forces emphasise vigilance under the Agnipath recruitment scheme. According to officials, 22-year-old Rakesh Ramesh Dubbula, an Agniveer seaman, and his 25-year-old brother, Umesh Ramesh Dubbula, were detained by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) in Asifabad district on Tuesday night.

On September 6, Rakesh, clad in a naval uniform, approached a junior sailor on sentry duty in Navy Nagar, falsely claiming to relieve him. The sailor handed over his rifle and two magazines loaded with 40 live cartridges (20 each). Rakesh then concealed the items in a bag and tossed them over a wall to Umesh, who was waiting outside.

The duo fled to Mumbai's Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) station and boarded a train to Telangana. Police traced them using extensive CCTV footage analysis. Investigations revealed Rakesh's familiarity with naval security from prior work in such areas; he holds a Class 12 education, while Umesh is a school dropout. The recovered items include the rifle, loaded magazines, and an empty one.

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The brothers are being transported to Mumbai for further interrogation to determine the crime's intent, which could range from personal gain to potential misuse. This arrest underscores the effectiveness of interstate police coordination and surveillance in combating internal security threats.

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