Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 12: The theft of an INSAS rifle along with two magazines containing 40 rounds from an Agniveer posted at Navy Nagar may soon be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as investigators suspect a possible Naxal connection.

Currently being probed by the crime branch, the case is likely to see the invocation of stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Deleted videos recovered from the mobile phone of arrested Agniveer Rakesh Ramesh Dubbula are also being examined for possible evidence.

On Thursday, teams from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and NIA jointly interrogated Rakesh and his brother Umesh. Their mobile phones have been sent for forensic examination, while police have also sought call detail records of the past 18 months.

Investigators said the accused gave conflicting explanations, ranging from targeting a rival in their village to flaunting the weapon before locals. “These appear misleading. We believe Rakesh is the main conspirator,” an officer said.

According to police, Rakesh had called his brother from Telangana and the duo executed the theft on September 6, coinciding with Ganesh Visarjan, hoping that police would be busy with bandobast duties. After stealing the rifle from AP Tower, the two travelled through CSMT, Kalyan, Pune and finally Secunderabad.

The weapon was recovered from their village home after investigators tracked their movements across 65 CCTV cameras. Officials fear that had the recovery been delayed, the rifle could have been handed over to suspected Naxalites. Their village in Telangana is a known Naxal-affected area, with several cadres surrendering in recent years.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised over the 24-hour delay in lodging the FIR. The theft occurred on September 6, but the Navy filed a complaint only the following day, sources confirmed.