Shillong, Mar 13: Over the course of three ATM thefts, a multi-state gang of thieves was able to make away with nearly Rs 1 crore in cash but their successful crime spree has now come to an end with all six landing in the police net.
Two men from Haryana, two from Assam and two locals have been arrested by Meghalaya police. Incidentally, the locals comprise a former member of the banned Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and a former policeman from the Special Operations Team (SOT).
The two from Haryana were the “professionals” and their apprehension added to the story of the heist; a Meghalaya team had travelled to Haryana to arrest them whereupon a crowd set upon the police and tried to free the prisoners and, perhaps, lynch the police.
Addressing a press conference today, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that this was the first time such a highly organised ATM theft operation was seen in the state.
The suspects were able to break open and loot the ATMs in less than seven minutes.
Three cases of ATM theft were reported in East Khasi Hills in recent months. The first incident took place on May 21, 2025, when an ATM at Mawkriah was broken into and cash amounting to Rs 28,13,100 was stolen.
Another incident occurred a few months later, on December 30, at Smit, where miscreants stole Rs 35,57,000. In a similar case on February 8 this year, an ATM at Mylliem was targeted and around Rs 35,00,000 was stolen.
The total amounts to just shy of Rs 1 crore. The money is still unaccounted for.
On February 27 a seven-member team from the special cell of EKH police led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Simseng Sangma was sent to Nuh district in Haryana to track down the accused.
Working with the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Nuh district, the police team arrested two key accused – Salim (26), a resident of Dorakhi in Mewat, Haryana, and Rahul (31), a resident of Bazidpur in Nuh district – on March 10 from Nuh city and Pingwan. Both were allegedly involved in cutting open the ATM machines. A court later granted five days of police custody for the two.
Police also arrested two local facilitators – John Fishal Lyngkhoi (32) from Umpling and Joyous Dura (47) from Mawlai Nongkwar in Shillong – who allegedly helped identify the ATMs targeted by the gang. The court granted six days of police remand for the two.
According to Syiem, Lyngkhoi is a surrendered cadre of the HNLC, while Dura is a former member of the SOT. The SP added that both have a history of criminal activities and were responsible for conducting reconnaissance and identifying the ATMs that were to be looted.
“They were contacted by counterparts in Assam, who were in touch with the accused from Haryana. These two persons (Lyngkhoi and Dura) carried out the recce and identified the ATM locations,” he said.
In another development on March 12, a special cell team led by DSP (Crime) Bipul Das arrested two more suspects – Rejaul Korim (38) from Chakla under Abhayapuri police station in Bongaigaon, Assam, and Lius Ali (28) from Boragaon under Gorchuk police station in Guwahati. Several incriminating items were recovered from their possession.
Police suspect the involvement of more persons and investigations are continuing to track them down. Syiem added that such crimes are often facilitated by local networks. “People from outside will not commit a crime unless it is with the help of local facilitators,” he said.
The police are also investigating the financial trail linked to the accused to determine how the stolen money was used. “We are looking at the trail of cash because they have used the money to pay their dues. We are trying to track in case funds were transferred elsewhere,” Syiem said.
Syiem credited the breakthrough to extensive groundwork by multiple police units. “It took a lot of hard work from the Special Cell. Different teams including the DSP (Operations), DSP City, SP City and Additional SP (Operations) worked in different areas. When all the evidence was pieced together, we could see the bigger picture and zero in on the culprits,” he said.
