6 ‘highway dacoits’ held in Jowai

JOWAI: Six persons have been arrested in West Jaintia Hills in connection with a highway dacoity.
The persons identified as Dapmain Shylla, Berly Suchiang, Daniel Phawa, Amechanki Mannar, Lakhon Shylla and Janki Lamare were tracked down by Jowai police after an FIR was lodged on Monday.
Police on Monday received a call from the caretaker of the 7th Mile weighbridge, Wanchema Laloo, that the driver of a truck that was parked on the highway was attacked by a group of armed men who tried to loot the vehicle. The men came in a Bolero that had no registration number. When the driver resisted, the men smashed the windshield of the truck with a log. The incident happened after sunset. The highway patrol team after being alerted swung into action. Though the car was found, the men fled. The patrol team found three crude petrol bombs and a log from inside the car. On inquiry, it was found that the car belonged to one Subhash Dkhar who, in an FIR on Tuesday, stated that his car was stolen from near his house at Ladrymbai.
On Tuesday, the police acted on a tip-off that a group of men were seen at 7th Mile in two vehicles and started a search operation. They arrested the six persons and seized the cars.