Overview

• Police recovered six live .303 rounds, five SLR bullets, four 9mm cartridges, four spent SLR shells and four Diwali crackers from a bag on a road divider near Vasavi guest house.
• CCTV footage reviewed by Atmakur DSP R. Ramanji Naik showed Armed Reserve Constable Ellappa leaving the bag behind as he entered Vasavi guest house for lunch and later fleeing the scene when pilgrims gathered.
• The DSP stated the ammunition matches standard issue for police firearms and ruled out any Maoist involvement, assuring worshippers there was no need to panic.
• Investigators noted a red cloth in the bag, which Ellappa carries for devotional reasons, and are examining why he stored crackers alongside his service ammunition.
• Ellappa, who joined the force in 1983 and transferred to the Armed Reserve in 2005, is due to retire at the end of the month and will face disciplinary action for negligence.