In a strange case, investigation by police into the recent theft of steel bars worth approximately Rs 10 lakh has revealed that the persons who filed complaint to police about the case were in fact the masterminds behind the theft.
According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtnger , on August 9, a written FIR was received from Deibormi Mukhim and Robert Shadap that on August 8, while their 12-wheeler truck (NL01-K-6051) loaded with TMT bars was parked at Mawryngkneng By-Pass, four unknown persons armed with a knife entered their truck at around 8:50 pm and forcefully dragged them inside one Alto 800 car which did not have a registration number.
Mukhim and Shadap stated in the FIR that they, along with another driver of a truck (ML05-T-3858), were detained the whole night and they were only released in the morning of August 9 at Pynursla.
“On receiving the information, investigation was initiated; however, during the course of investigation, it was found that Deibormi Mukhim and Robert Shadap had prearranged to unload the consignments at Pommura, and thereafter, loaded the materials into another truck bearing registration number ML05-T-3858. The stolen consignments were recovered from Laitkyrhong and Jongksha village, and the total number of seized/recovered TMT bars is about 18.5 tons amounting to approximately Rs 9.5 or Rs 10 lakh,” Nongtnger said.
The SP also informed that the 12-wheeler truck which was reported missing was recovered from Mukhla village, West Jaintia Hills and the truck bearing registration number ML-05-T-3858 which was used for the commission of crime was seized from 7th Mile Baniun, Upper Shillong.
Police also arrested Deibormi Mukhim (40), Robert Shadap (25), Babiangbor Mylliem (38) and Shopstarwell Jana (35) and a criminal case under Sections 309 (4) and 137 (2) of BNS has been registered against them at Mawryngkneng police station.
“The investigation of the case is in progress to ascertain the facts and circumstances,” the SP added.
