160 electric detonators found near army camp in Secunderabad; not related to the gun theft case, police say

Three days after the theft of service arms and ammunition from the Madras Regiment compound at Bollarum, Secunderabad Cantonment, 160 electric detonators were found near an army camp on Wednesday (September 2, 2026). However, police said the detonators were unrelated to the gun theft and were believed to have been left during construction of a business next to the golf course.

A Malkajgiri police officer confirmed that the detonators were found near the construction site next to the golf course on Wednesday afternoon. The material was allegedly abandoned by unknown persons involved in the construction activity and was not related to the theft of weapons from the army compound.

Army personnel noticed a suspicious plastic bucket near the rear wall of the shooting range and alerted Bollarum police. When police checked the bucket, they found 160 electric detonators packed in eight bundles.

A bomb disposal team from Malkajgiri, accompanied by a sniffer dog, examined the material and identified it as 33A size commercial electric detonators. As per the instructions of the team, the detonators were secured in a safe place.

The Bollarum police have registered a case against unknown persons in connection with the abandonment of the detonators and are investigating their source and the circumstances under which they were left near the army camp.

Multiple agencies investigate gun thefts

The recovery of the detonators initially raised fresh security concerns as it came amid an ongoing investigation into the theft of four AK-203 assault rifles, an INSAS 1B1 rifle, six 9mm Auto 1A pistols, a 6.35 caliber civilian pistol and more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition from the 20 Madra compound.

However, police have now clarified that the detonators have no connection to the gun theft case.

The Army’s investigation into the weapons theft is being conducted separately from an undisclosed location inside the defense area to maintain confidentiality. Military Intelligence has joined the investigation while the entire Malkajgiri Police, Hyderabad Task Force and Counter Intelligence are assisting the Army.

Security restrictions remain inside the Secunderabad Cantonment area after the weapons were stolen.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 12:21 IST