MUMBAI: In a major security breach, an unidentified man dressed in naval uniform entered Navy Nagar, the Navy’s restricted residential zone in Colaba, on Saturday evening and fled with an INSAS rifle and two magazines carrying 40 live rounds.
The impostor approached a junior sailor on sentry duty around 7.30 pm, claiming he was his replacement. Believing him, the guard handed over his weapon and left for his hostel. When he returned an hour later to collect his watch, he discovered the man had vanished. After searching the area in vain for nearly three hours, the sailor reported the incident to his superiors.
The Navy immediately launched a search operation but failed to trace the suspect. A formal complaint was later lodged with Cuffe Parade police, which registered a case of theft. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have also joined the probe.
Officials said CCTV footage is being examined to track the man’s movements, and a sketch has been prepared based on the guard’s description. Investigators are probing whether the suspect had prior knowledge of duty schedules or merely exploited procedural gaps.
A Navy spokesperson said an extensive search is underway in coordination with police, and a board of inquiry has been ordered to examine the lapse. The ease with which the guard was deceived has raised concerns about security protocols in one of the country’s most sensitive military zones.
