Sixteen AK-47 bullets, twelve 7.62 mm bullets -- each costing Rs 1000 –were obtained by a Zee News correspondent posing as a criminal. The bullets were packed in containers with markings of the Indian ordnance factories, including the batch numbers.
In fact, the person who acted as the go-between, even said he could supply HI-76 hand grenades and pistols. But the price tag was a bit steep. A hand grenade cost Rs 5,000 while a pistol could be had for something around Rs 2.5 lakhs. Anti-national forces get guns meant for securitymen Recent seizures in different parts of the country point to the fact that several groups around the country are involved in this racket. A few days ago the Andhra Pradesh Police arrested two naxalites and obtained .303 and 8 mm bullets. All the bullets had markings of Indian ordnance factories and even the manufacture date – February 22, 2000.
In fact, the Warrangal police has obtained 1,714 bullets in six different incidents in the last two years.
Investigations have revealed that several anti-national forces are obtaining their arms and ammunition from these ordnance factories, including the People’s War Group, the MCC, the Ranvir Sena, gangs operating in eastern and western Uttar Pradesh and small gangs operating from WB, MP and Rajasthan. Startling findings by confidential audit report A confidential report prepared by the Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA) has come up with some startling revelations. The special audit report has brought to light instances of corruption in the maintenance of records of ammunition stocks of 23rd Infantry Division under the Indian Army’s Cebtral Command.
The probe by the CDA’s Patna team found that the Infantry Ordnance Unit’s stock register ‘Ammunition Technical Service (ATS) Wing was missing. Not only that, the loss of this register was neither reported to Army Headquarters or the CDA.
Further investigations revealed that the current ATS register was being maintained only since March 21, 1998. The register used before this had been lost. Nobody had any explanation as to how such an important register, which kept stock of the arms, was misplaced. Interestingly, the CDA probe found that the ordnance unit of the 23 Infantry Division uses explosives for its Diwali celebrations -- which is against Army rules. Vouchers obtained revealed a list of the units which used the explosives for the fireworks display on Diwali. Whether the explosives were used by the units is anybody’s guess.
What was more startling was the fact that many explosives obtained from the depot were not even listed in the ATS.
Moreover, entry vouchers of arms and ammunition returned to Jabalpur Central Ordnance Depot and those sent to other units by the 23 Infantry Division were also missing. SLRs, carbines and rifle magazines were among the deadly weapons whose records were missing.
Though the special audit report has been sent to the Commanding Officer, 23rd Infantry Division and some top Army officials, no action has been taken as yet. Captain court martialled for honesty

The nefarious activities at the 23rd Infantry Division were sought to be brought to light by Captain Anand Kumar. But the honest soldier had to pay for his honesty. Court martial proceedings have been initiated against him. He has not even been allowed to return home and there is no news of him since August 10. No army official has bothered to inform his wife and even the ration supplies to his family has been stopped.
It is believed that he is currently being held prisoner in a room in Ranchi Cantonment. Captain Kumar is being victimised by his bosses for sending a confidential report to the commandant of the Directorate General of Ordnance Services detailing the corrupt practices at the 23 Infantry Division. This report pointed out the malpractices in the ordnance stores of the 23rd Infantry Division and the fact that audit and stock taking were not taking place. He also wrote that when he brought these inconsistencies to the note of his Commanding Officer, Colonel H C Chawla, he did not take act on it.
Zee News managed to obtain a copy of the confidential letter that Captain Kumar sent to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 23rd Infantry Division, on 15 Oct 1998. In this letter he has pointed out the corruption taking place in the ordnance stores, and also pointed out the fact that he is being victimised him by the CO.
The Army had ordered Captain Kumar’s transfer to the 19 Mahar Regiment. However the HC has struck down the transfer order.