Hard Disc stolen from Home Ministry office

New Delhi, Jan 9: In what can be seen as a major security goof-up, burglars broke into the high secure Union Home Ministry’s North Block office and stole a hard disc and monitor on Sunday. The matter was first revealed by the officer who was allotted the computer. He reported to police that his hard disk was missing.

A senior police officer also added that the monitor of the same machine had gone missing on Nov 3, 2011.

The officer whose machine's hard disk is missing has been identified as Ishwar Mehto, who works as an assistant in the Home Ministry's Hindi department. The incident came to light when Mehto came to office on Jan 3 and attempted to switch on his computer. When he was unable to do the same, he called up the computer mechanic to take a look. It was the mechanic who found that the computer's hard disk was missing.

Mehto immediately filed a police complaint at the Parliament Street police station and said, "I came to know about the theft of hard disk when I tried to operate the computer using another monitor. I was to type a Cabinet note. As it was not functioning, I called a mechanic who checked it and told me that the hard disk was missing. I, immediately informed my superiors who asked me to file an FIR.”

Mehto mentioned in the complaint that this was the second time that parts of his computer have gone missing. The police have registered a case against unknown persons for theft. Initial investigation have revealed that the monitor used by the private secretary at MHA, Ravi is also missing.

Investigations revealed that the hard disk and monitors were stolen from Room Number 203 of Home Ministry in the intervening night of Jan 2 and 3. Police suspect the role of insiders behind the act. Police investigating the matter commented, "The nature of the thefts indicates that they were carried out by somebody who knows the place and the importance of the missing documents and files. We’re questioning the staff working there.”

Beefing up security in the offices, the security personnel are now checking the bags of those leaving the Home Ministry offices.

OneIndia News