A serving Army jawan was apprehended late Tuesday night in Meerut for possessing 70 AK-47 cartridges, raising significant concerns about ammunition security and potential illegal transfers. The soldier, identified as Rahul Kumar from Nagli Azad village, is currently assigned to a counter-terrorism battalion at the Mechanised Infantry Centre and School in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
The arrest was executed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in cooperation with the Meerut police following a tip-off regarding the transport of illicit ammunition. Rahul was stopped near the Rapid Rail station at the Modiouram outpost while in a car, where a search uncovered the live cartridges.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Pallavpuram police station, Rahul, who was wearing his Army ID at the time of his arrest, faces charges under Sections 7 and 25(1-AA) of the Arms Act, 1959.
Initial interrogations revealed that the cartridges had reportedly been retained from Rahul’s previous deployment in Jammu and Kashmir, where he had engaged in anti-terror operations. He confessed to not returning the unused ammunition to Army storage and instead bringing it home during his leave.
During questioning, Rahul stated that he was contacted by an acquaintance in Meerut’s Shastri Nagar. The individual, who claimed to be a member of the Special Task Force (STF), requested the ammunition, stating that he had lost his own. Rahul agreed to provide the rounds during his time off.
However, the intended handover did not proceed as planned. When Rahul reached a predetermined meeting site near a college, his friend did not arrive. Instead, an unidentified young man approached him. Allegedly, Rahul attempted to throw the ammunition to the unknown individual but sought to flee when confronted. He was promptly apprehended by law enforcement officials.
Senior Army officers arrived on the scene shortly after the arrest and commenced a parallel military inquiry. Authorities are now delving into the circumstances surrounding the alleged smuggling of the ammunition, as well as the possibility of involvement from others in a broader illegal arms transfer network.
This incident has prompted intensified scrutiny within defense and security circles, drawing attention to the risks associated with ammunition diversion and highlighting the urgent need for tighter inventory control measures in sensitive military postings.
