By Abhro Banerjee,News18

Copyright news18

The accused, who stole a rifle and ammunition from Navy premises, has been identified as a Navy firefighter, officials said. Preliminary findings indicate that two brothers stole an INSAS rifle along with 40 cartridges from the high-security campus.
According to officials, the suspect entered in a Navy uniform, remained inside the residential zone for several hours after tricking a sailor into handing over the rifle, then changed, packed the weapon and bullets into a white plastic bag, and tossed it to an associate waiting outside the perimeter. Mumbai Police, aided by CCTV footage, are tracking the person who carried the bag away.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two brothers, Rakesh Ubala and Umesh Ubala, who were allegedly attempting to travel to Naxal-affected areas of Telangana to sell rifles to Naxalites. Their role is being examined in connection with the broader probe.
Investigators said the Agniveer who handed over the weapon is in Naval Police custody and is being interrogated. The Navy has initiated a Board of Inquiry to determine how protocols and regulations on weapons handling were breached.
A joint search operation by the Indian Navy and Mumbai Police is underway to recover the weapon and apprehend all those involved. A case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered at the Cuffe Parade Police Station.
The matter is also being examined by central agencies, with the Navy extending full cooperation. Investigators are probing how access to the high-security residential area was secured and whether identification lapses contributed to the breach.