On Friday, residents of Kolathur, Puzhal, Retteri and adjoining areas were surprised to see a wall poster of a different kind.

The poster declared a loaded pistol was missing, and promised to duly reward the finder.

After the poster, with a photograph of the missing weapon, went up on walls along main roads in prominent localities on Friday, it attracted the attention of several passers-by.

Enquiries by The Hindu revealed the missing 0.32 calibre pistol belonged to D. Krishnamoorthy, an AIADMK functionary and interior designer from Kolathur.

He claimed he had put up the posters in a genuine attempt to recover his missing licensed pistol.

“On July 9, I came home around 8.30 p.m., and placed my pistol, loaded with five bullets, on my SUV parked at home. I went in to talk to some guests who had come home. Unaware the weapon was kept on the car, my brother-in-law drove away in it to pick up my son from tuition class. The pistol must have fallen somewhere along the way,” said Krishnamoorthy.

He searched for the weapon along the route the vehicle passed through but did not find it, said Krishnamoorthy.

Following this, he lodged a complaint with the Puzhal police, and put up the posters.

“I have been in possession of the pistol from 2006 for reasons of personal security, and hold a licence valid till 2016. I wish whoever has found the weapon, and is in possession of it, would return it,” said Krishnamoorthy.

The individual will be duly rewarded, he said.