Navy Nagar breach: Fake guard threw rifle across wall to aide

MUMBAI: In the case of a major security breach at Navy Nagar - the Navy's residential area in Mumbai's Colaba - where a man impersonating a naval personnel fled with a rifle and ammunition after taking it from a junior sailor, the role of an accomplice who collected the rifle from the impersonator after it was thrown over the compound wall has emerged. Further, the intruder spent three hours inside the complex before fleeing, police said.

A board of inquiry has been initiated against the junior sailor to determine if he followed SOPs for entering weapon details during duty sign-off and executing handover procedures to the man who posed as his 'reliever' in naval uniform.

CCTV footage captured an alleged imposter wearing a mask to conceal his identity and dressed in civilian attire throwing the stolen INSAS rifle and 40 bullets over the compound wall at a spot inside Navy Nagar at around 8pm Saturday. The accomplice collected it before the suspect fled.

Cuffe Parade police, who registered a case of theft, will add more stringent sections once there is more clarity on the offence. It is suspected the suspect conducted reconnaissance before carrying out the act.

The incident occurred between 4.30pm and 8pm Saturday. "A probe is on to find out if there is any insider role. The suspect captured on CCTV had masked his face and changed into civilian attire soon after the 20-year-old junior sailor left for his quarters. The suspect covered his face before heading towards the wall and threw the weapon over the compound wall. CCTV cameras captured it all," said a cop from Cuffe Parade police station.

Officials said the way the intruder was dressed, the timing of guard change, and confidence with which he walked into the defence area and convinced the sailor he had come as his reliever strongly points to the suspect being someone who knows the system inside out.

The intruder approached the sailor, claiming to be his senior officer from Quick Response Team (QRT), and said there was an orange alert and hence he had come to check on him. After checking the sailor's identity and other details, the intruder asked him to leave as he was his 'reliever'. The sailor handed over his rifle and magazine and left for his hostel, only to reappear an hour later to realise the man was missing.

Six teams from zone-1 of Mumbai police, along with other agencies, are searching for the accused. With the help of the junior sailor, police have created a sketch of the suspect.

"CCTV captured the imposter entering through the main gate with a laptop bag in which he is suspected to have carried the Navy uniform. He used some ID cards to gain access. After staying inside for almost three hours, the imposter approached the junior sailor and took his INSAS rifle and 40 bullets. He calmly entered Navy Nagar through the main gate and left without getting caught," said the officer.

A source in the know of the matter said the junior sailor, was among the Agniveer recruits who, after completing basic training at Odisha's INS Chilka, were assigned to Navy Nagar a few months ago.

Navy officials are also working on tightening security measures. In a press statement on Tuesday, the Navy said loss of a rifle along with ammunition from a sentry post was reported.


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