An FIR has been lodged against seven Bihar Military Police personnel for their alleged involvement in the theft of 1,200 cartridges of 9mm pistol from the armoury of the 13th battalion.

While four of the accused personnel have been suspended and departmental proceedings have been started against them, two of them have died and one has retired last year.

Sudhir Kumar, the commandant of the 13th battalion of the BMP stationed in Darbhanga, said the disciplinary action was initiated after preliminary investigation hinted at the personnel’s involvement in the theft. The report revealed the ammunition went missing during the period when havildars Ram Ekbal Pandey and Sagar Homahanga were in charge of the armoury.

The preliminary probe report has been submitted to the BMP headquarters in Patna, the commandant said.

Prima facie, havildars Ram Ekbal Pandey, Vijay Shankar Pandey, Sagar Homahanga, subedars Ramesh Kuer alias Ramesh Singh and Nek Mohammad Khan and constables Arun Kumar and Birendra Kumar Singh were found guilty of lapses on their part.

They were booked under sections 109, 120(B), 406, 409, 420, 468, 470 and 471 of Indian Penal Code. Homahanga committed suicide last year, while Birendra Kumar Singh died of natural causes. Ram retired in April last year.