Meerut: An internal inquiry has been ordered into an alleged security break at the 108 Infantry Battalion TA (Territorial Army) “Mahar” in Pathankot 272 Transit Camp where a fake recruit was “deployed” from July to October this year.
According to sources, the major points that the inquiry committee will highlight include how salary of Rs 12,500 a month was given to the bogus recruit; how he went undetected for such a long time in such a sensitive area; and how he had an access to the Insas rifle.
The probe will also look into the possibility of other personnel within the ranks being involved in the racket.
The current development has taken place on the heels of the arrest of a former sentry of 108 Infantry Battalion TA, Rahul Singh and one of his two chums from Meerut, Bittu Singh.
According to reports, Rahul took Rs 16 lakh from a youth from Ghaziabad Manoj Kumar who was aspiring to join the Army and promised him to help him get the job.
Rahul, “posted” as a sentry in the Pathankot-based 272 transit camp, got Manoj inside the centre. He provided Manoj with a uniform and gave him various assignments. Rahul even gave Manoj an Insas rifle to convince him that he had been recruited.
Meanwhile, Rahul’s cohort Bittu used to present himself before Manoj as a senior army officer, mostly through video calls. Bittu was in full army dress at the time of holding the video conferencing.
According to superintendent of police Piyush, the police have recovered the uniform, all fake documents, a few stamps and also a country-made pistol from the arrested men, but the third accused Raja Singh is still on the run.
