By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Police on Tuesday termed the recent busting of a theft racket involving a lawyer and the subsequent arrest of several accused as ‘one of the biggest busts’ for the State Police.
Altogether 13 persons have been arrested in connection with the cases (eight recently and five others in July).
“This is perhaps one of the biggest car theft busts in the city where a gang of thieves including a lawyer were apprehended,” Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Vivek Syiem said here on Monday.
Syiem said the gang had been operating for the past 3 to 4 years and had been selling the stolen vehicles in Manipur.
Meanwhile, a source has revealed that Advocate Tariqul Islam used to facilitate the crime and was being paid a share of the money collected through sale of the stolen vehicles.
Syiem informed that Islam has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody after which he will be handed over to Assam Police.
“Islam is equally involved in this case as he had been assisting the gang. We are investigating into the details,” Syiem said.
Police had arrested six persons including four from Assam in connection with a car theft case at Upper Shillong and on interrogating of the arrested persons, Dorji Namgyal of Madanriting was arrested. A day after the arrest of these seven people Tariqul Islam was picked up by Assam Police on the request of Meghalaya Police.
Police have recovered a white Bolero (AS01 AV 5117) and a Maruti Wagon R (ML05 F 7584) which belongs to one Kamal Rasailli, a salesman for pre-owned vehicles at Rani Motors, Shillong.
