Tue Mar 11 17:47:31 UTC 2025: ## Forest Guard Arrested for Stealing Service Pistol
**TIRUVANNAMALAI, March 11, 2025** – A 44-year-old forest guard, S. Muniappan, was arrested on Tuesday for the theft of a 9mm Glock G17 service pistol, magazine, and cleaning rod from the Chengam forest range office. Muniappan, a two-decade veteran of the Forest Department, had been assigned sentry duty at the office a fortnight prior to the incident.
According to police, Muniappan took the pistol box home after his shift. The theft was discovered by Forest Range Officer S. Ragupathy (56) during routine maintenance. An internal investigation revealed that Muniappan, excited at the prospect of handling a firearm for the first time, stole the pistol. The weapon was never fired.
Following an alert from forest officials, Chengam police apprehended Muniappan at his home and registered a case. He is currently being held at the Chengam sub-jail, and the investigation is ongoing.
First Piper 