GHAZIABAD: An 18-year-old youth has been arrested for allegedly stealing a rifle from a police chowki in Ghaziabad, said officials on Tuesday.
They said Arish committed the crime after getting influenced by videos on social media platforms that show people flaunting guns. The Class X student from Pasonda village in Ghaziabad wanted to make a similar video.
The matter came to the fore on July 6 when sub-inspector from Karan Gate police chowki Mohit Kumar found that an INSAS rifle was missing.
An FIR against unknown person was registered under the section of 380 (theft) and 457 (Lurking house-trespass or house- breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) of IPC.
The police checked CCTV footage where they saw a boy stealing the gun. He was then identified. He had dug a pit inside his house in Pasonda village to hide the rifle, which has been recovered, said an officer. Before this incident, the Class X student was booked for creating a nuisance. “In the past couple of weeks, he used to frequently come to the police station for the matter. This is when he stole the key to the room where arms are kept. On an opportune moment, he stole the weapon,” the officer explained.
SP-II (Ghaziabad) Gyanendra Singh said the matter is being probed.
“A report on the same has been submitted to SSP Ghaziabad by Sahibabad SHO. The boy has confessed to the crime and has been booked under relevant sections of IPC. Further actions will also be taken up in the case for negligence of policemen in duty,” he said
The boy was sent to judicial custody.
