Officers at the Tollygunge police station flouted rules, which led to the incident.

“The rule is clear. Arms issued to our men are kept in the armory in the police stations. One has to take it while joining the duty and deposit it after it is over. Proper stock, timing and paperwork is involved. We are investigating whether the procedure has been followed at the Tollygunge thana. One cannot be callous with arms, especially the cops. We are checking all police stations. Special permission can only be obtained to keep the arms with persons under special circumstances, for example where there is a life risk,” said Vineet Goyel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).

The service pistol of Sunil Kumar Majhi, special guard of the additional officer-in-charge, was stolen by Amaresh Kundu and used in the murder of Saswati Pal.

Following the incident, Kolkata police suspended Majhi, and issued showcause notices to Shantipada Roy, officer-in-charge of Tollygunge police station, sergeant Gautam Roy and file monitor Abdul Majid Bapari for negligence of duty.

However, at various police stations it was found that the service revolvers and ammunition are not deposited on time.

“They are kept in personal trunks and lockers of the officers concerned, unguarded and unlocked, he added.

At every police station sergeants are nominated to take charge of the armour and files are monitored 24 hours a day.

Before joining the duty, when an officer takes up his arms, the timing and the number of the gun and the ammunition is duly registered and signed.

The procedure is repeated when the officer hands over the arms after his or her duty.

But officers and constables flout the rules and update the data at the end of the month.