By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Police have recovered Rs 33.44 lakh out of Rs 42 lakh which was looted from an employee of the Central Bank of India (CBI), Anjalee Branch — Ritu Singh — on Tuesday last.
In fact, the mastermind of this case Bipul Chandra Deka, a casual employee of the bank, has already been in police net.
The incident took place at GS Road in the city at around 10.30 am on Tuesday last, when Singh and Deka were proceeding towards the UBI Bank in Police Bazar to deposit Rs 42 lakh collected at the bank.
The miscreants threw chilli powder on the face of the duo before decamping with the money.
Beside Deka, the police also arrested five others — Mohammed Idris Ali, Richard Tony Kharbani alias Tony Rani, Meshak Lyngdoh, Masterlin Lyngdoh Nonglait and Royalty Pathaw (wife of one of the accused) – in this connection.
According to Vivek Syiem , Additional SP (Crime), Deka masterminded the robbery.
According to him, Deka was having a huge debt trap of around Rs 7 to 8 lakh.
Informing that Deka was supposed to collect money from customers and deposit the same in their accounts, Syiem said “for past several years he has never deposited money in customers’ accounts. Because of this Deka found himself amidst a huge debt trap.”
Two days after the incident, police managed to arrest one of the accused Mohammed Idris Ali (33) from Mawbah and recovered Rs 23.99 lakh from his possession, Additional SP (Crime) informed.
After this, police arrested Tony Rani, a known criminal from Jingthangbriew, Jaiaw and seized Rs 4.70 lakh from his house
“The wife of Tony (Royalty Pathaw) guided police to the place where the money was kept,” Syiem said.
Another accused Meshak Lyngdoh of Nongrah was arrested from Mawlai Mawroh, he said, adding that Rs 3.75 lakh and a Maruti Gypsy, which was used while committing the crime, were recovered from him.
One more accused Masterlin Lyngdoh Nonglait was arrested from Madanriting and Rs 1 lakh was recovered from his possession.
Syiem informed that after committing the crime all had gone to Kyrdem, Ri-Bhoi district, to share the amount.
He said police are also trying to investigate how Deka, who is not a full fledge employee of the bank, could accompany the clerk to deposit the money.
“It is a clear case of gross negligence,” Syiem said.
When asked about the clerk, Additional SP (crime) said that the clerk was not involved in this conspiracy.