Barely a month after the unprecedented security breach at the National Security Council Secretariat involving suspected cyber-espionage, first reported by The Indian Express, the tri-service Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) Headquarters has now reported a theft of three Central Processing Units (hard drives) on July 21.

A case under Section 380 (theft at dwellings) of Indian Penal Code was registered on July 25 at the Chanakyapuri police station.

According to the complaint, three hard disks along with printers were stolen from Room Number 49, South Hutments, of Defence Headquarters. The room, according to the complaint, was locked and sealed by officer in charge J N Awasthi on July 21. The keys were deposited at the gate at Kashmir House. The gate time recorded is 17:27 pm by Awasthi.

The next morning at 7.55, the complaint says, when Awasthi unlocked the room, he reported to Kumar that it had been ransacked. A crime team of Delhi Police visted the spot. “We have taken some chance finger-prints and we are questioning the staff of the Ministry” said a senior police officer.

While South Block is silent on the theft, the IDS, which is the strategic think tank of the three armed forces, has filed the complaint. Apart from handling the Andamans and Nicobar Command, the Integrated Headquarters is tasked to prepare the net assessment of various strategic plans. The key staff of the IDS is housed in South Hutments, behind the Defence Ministry.

“We have registered the case and investigations are on but no arrests have been made so far,” said DCP (New Delhi district) Anand Mohan.

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