A pistol symbolising Pakistan's defeat at the hands of Indian forces in the 1971 war has mysteriously gone missing from the high-security National Museum in Delhi.

The weapon was handed over by Pakistan's Lieutenant General A A K Niazi to the then chief of Eastern Command Lt Gen J S Aurora while surrendering along with 93,000 soldiers.

The police have detained an official of the Indian Navy, Petty Officer Akbar Ali, who was reportedly manning the gallery where the weapon was kept.

The investigation of the theft has beenhanded over to the Crime Branch.

The police are questioning several people, including the personnel of Central Industrial Security Force, navy and employees of the museum.

Security of the museum, housing unique items of national and international importance, was handed over to the CISF more than a year back after intelligence reports suggested that it was on the target list of Pakistan-backed terrorists.