6 including gang leader arrested
SHILLONG: In less than 24 hours after they robbed the passengers of a bus (ML- 06 5380), the East Khasi Hills Police on Wednesday busted the six-member gang led by a hardcore criminal.
The six-member gang had allegedly looted passengers of a bus, which was on its way to Shillong, at Laitumsaw village near Mawsynram on October 6 at around 4.45 am.
The arrested persons include leader of the gang Pynshai Rani @ Newstar Kharbani (32) of Umpling, Balbir Singh (26), Raju Biswas (35) and Monu Singh (23), all hailing from Sweeper Lane, Them Iew Mawlong, Govind Chettry (38) of Lumkshaid, Mawprem and Phrangkupar Nongrang (38) of Mawlai Phudmawrie.
“Within less than 24 hours after the incident, police have been able to arrest Pynshai Rani alias Newstar Kharbani (32), who is leader of the gang which led to arrest of all five others involved in looting the passengers,” East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang said on Wednesday evening.
“It was a difficult task to nab these criminals since all of them had put on masks to escape identification. The only clue given by the passengers was that the criminals were speaking to each other in Khasi and Nepali,” Kharkrang said.
The SP informed that the dacoits had looted Rs.2, 82,000 along with ornaments and other items from the passengers of the bus.
The dacoits had also looted money from the occupants of a car (ML05 G-1037).
Informing that all the arrested persons had been arrested earlier for dacoity and robbery, Kharkrang said the gang leader (Pynshai) was detained under MPDA in 2004 and again in 2007.
Pynshai had escaped from custody in 2007 but was again arrested. He has more than 15 pending trial against him in different courts, the district police chief said.
Another of the accused (Raju Biswas) was arrested earlier for robbery and murder, Kharkrang said.
The items seized from the possession of the arrested persons include one country-made revolver, three daggers, four mobile phones and gold ring besides Rs 28,500 in cash.
Police informed that the local taxi (ML05-H-8182) which was used by them to escape from the crime scene had also been seized.