Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
An army jawan was arrested in Khatima of district Udham Singh Nagar after absconding following the theft of army weapons. Suraj Chandra Joshi, a resident of Banlekh Nandkuli in Champawat district, was recruited from Banbasa in 2020 as a member of the Bengal Engineers Group in the Indian army. The arrested jawan has been accused of theft of weapons and cartridges from Assam. The police recovered an INSAS rifle, 60 cartridges, and four magazines from his possession. Primary investigation suggests that jawan was mentally unwell as he incurred huge losses in online gaming apps.
Joshi was part of a team of 11 jawans tasked with delivering rations to Dimapur in Assam on October 4. While the vehicle was traveling along Dingiya National Highway, he reportedly jumped out with his weapon and fled the scene. Following this incident, a case was registered against him in Barpathar in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, under the Arms Act and for arms theft.
Five days after the theft, the army tracked Joshi’s mobile location to Khatima. The army contacted one other jawani, who was on leave, and he informed the Khatima police about the situation. “A search operation was conducted in Khatima on Tuesday night,” said Khatima police SHO, Manohar Singh Dasauni. The operation involved SSI Vinod Joshi and Bazaar Chowki in-charge Pankaj Mahar.
Around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Joshi was arrested at a hotel near the main square, with the stolen weapons in his possession. The police recovered an INSAS rifle, 60 cartridges, and four magazines. Following his arrest, the officers of the Banbasa Rajput Regiment also interrogated him.
“The police have registered a case for the recovery of stolen goods and presented the accused in court,” said Dasauni. “We are currently seeking to take him on remand for further questioning.” In initial interrogations, the jawan revealed that the jawan disclosed that he was burdened by a loan and had suffered financial losses on online gaming apps, which had significantly impacted his mental well-being. He asserted that he had no intention of harming anyone and that his troubled state of mind prompted him to head toward his home.
Joshi had returned to his unit on September 19 after a month’s leave, making his decision to abscond just 15 days later even more puzzling for the authorities. The army authorities in Assam have been informed after his arrest and they will be coming along with Assam police to US nagar for his transit remand.
