Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 9: In a shocking security breach, an unidentified man dressed in naval uniform managed to hoodwink a sentry at Navy Nagar, Colaba — the highly restricted residential area of the Indian Navy — and fled with an INSAS rifle and two magazines containing 40 live cartridges.

The incident occurred around 7:30 pm on Saturday when the impersonator approached a junior sailor on guard duty, claiming that he had come to relieve him from his shift. Believing the stranger to be his replacement, the guard unsuspectingly handed over his service weapon and ammunition before heading back to his hostel.

Sources revealed that the guard returned an hour later to collect a personal item, only to find the man missing along with the rifle. Alarmed, he searched the area for nearly three hours before alerting his superiors.

Following the report, Navy teams immediately launched a massive search operation in and around the vicinity but failed to track the suspect. Later, a formal complaint was lodged with the Cuffe Parade police, who registered an FIR for theft.

The case has now drawn the attention of multiple security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Officials are probing whether the impersonator had prior knowledge of duty schedules or simply exploited a procedural loophole.

Police are scanning CCTV footage from the area and have also prepared a sketch of the suspect based on the guard’s description. Meanwhile, the Navy has ordered a board of inquiry to investigate the lapse, while efforts continue to recover the stolen weapon and ammunition.

The ease with which the impersonator tricked the guard into parting with his service rifle has raised serious questions about security protocols at one of the country’s most sensitive military zones.