Hyderabad, Sept. 5 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is assisting the Telangana police and the Army in tracing 12 weapons and ammunition stolen from the Madras Regiment facility at Bollaram in Secunderabad Cantonment, with investigators yet to establish whether the arms remain within the military campus or have been smuggled out.

The theft came to light on August 31 when Army personnel opened the Kote and Battalion Magazine, where weapons and ammunition are stored, and found the locks broken.

The weapons had last been physically accounted for on the evening of August 30. The missing cache comprises four 7.62x39 mm AK-203 assault rifles, one 5.56 mm INSAS 1B1 rifle and seven pistols, as well as 21 magazines, ammunition and a pas...