Probe ordered into 6 trophies missing from Army instt

Pune: The Indian Army has initiated a court of inquiry into the theft of six trophies from the mess of the Army Institute of Physical Training (AIPT) between Feb 13 and March 15.The incident came to light late in March during a routine cleaning of the mess, when the mess secretary opened the display cabinet to found the trophies missing. The Army authorities lodged an FIR with the Wanowrie police on April 4. Local police said they suspect the involvement of insiders.Meanwhile, a senior Army officer said a three-member court of inquiry has been constituted now to conduct a parallel internal investigation. "The panel will investigate the matter and review the security arrangements at the institute. Additional CCTV cameras and deployment of personnel will be considered based on its recommendations," he said.Police said preliminary findings indicated the possibility of involvement of insiders, citing restricted access to the premises and the manner in which the trophies were removed without immediate detection. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, access records and questioning staff associated with the mess and administrative sections of the institute.The AIPT is located on the busy Pune-Solapur highway. It is one of the Army's premier training establishments and is responsible for training physical education instructors and sports personnel for the force. The value and historical significance of the stolen trophies are being assessed as part of the investigation.Assistant police inspector of the Wanowrie police station Umakant Mahadik, who is investigating the case, told TOI: "We have alerted jewellers in the city. Trophies made from silver have not been sold in the local market yet. We have questioned about 18 staffers associated with the AIPT's mess, but there's no concrete clue. The institute informed us about the internal inquiry. It will not affect our probe."