MP-LD ARMY-RIFLES THEFT

MP: Two men steal INSAS rifles from Army cantonment, cops on
alert
    (Eds: adding details, upgrading)
    Bhopal, Dec 6 (PTI) Posing as Army personnel, two
unidentified men decamped with two INSAS rifles and ammunition
from the Army cantonment at Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh on
Friday, prompting the police to sound high alert.
    A manhunt has been launched across the state,
Hoshangabad district superintendent of police M L Chhari told
PTI over phone.
    The duo, posing as Army men, arrived at a check post
in the early hours of Friday and asked the sentries on duty
to call someone from inside the cantonment, he said.
    After engaging the sentries in light chatter, the duo
suddenly seized two INSAS assault rifles and 20 live
cartridges from the check post and fled, the SP said.
    Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo had
got down at Piparia station, 55 km away, around midnight and
taken a taxi for Pachmarhi, the senior police official said.
    "We received information about the incident around 5
am, and have cordoned off the road network and railway
stations in the area to nab the accused, one of whom sported a
beard," Chhari said.
    After stealing rifles, the duo might have returned to
the station and boarded a train to escape, he added.
    "The Military Police are investigating the matter.
They will lodge a formal complaint with us," he said.
    "Police across the state have been asked to remain
alert and keep a close watch at important places," additional
director general of police (intelligence) Dr S W Naqvi said.
PTI LAL MAS ARU
KRK KRK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)