Pistol of ex-Minister's guard stolen

A service pistol of a personal security guard of a former Delhi minister was allegedly stolen today during his birthday party at a banquet hall in east Delhi's Shastri Park area, police said.

A huge crowd had gathered at the hall where the former minister was distributing blankets among the poor, when someone suddenly made away with the security guard's pistol, a police official said.

A search operation was conducted at the hall but the pistol could not be recovered, following which a case was registered, he said, adding that people present at the party were being questioned and CCTV footage scrutinized.