By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 3: A burglary incident was reported at the Revenue, Budget and Finance Department of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) after two unidentified individuals allegedly broke into the premises in the early hours of Monday, around 6 am.
The break-in was discovered only around 11 am when office staff arrived for work and found files and papers scattered across the floors, along with clear signs of forced entry into several office drawers and almirahs.
While it has not yet been confirmed whether any official documents are missing, authorities have verified that an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.
The KHADC promptly lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at Lumdiengjri Police Station. Police visited the Council office on Tuesday morning and have launched an investigation.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening, KHADC Executive Member in charge of the Elaka Department, Denzil Raynard Chen, said he was informed of the incident upon reaching the office around 11 am.
“One of the officers informed me that unknown persons had broken into their rooms and ransacked documents and papers. I immediately inspected the rooms and confirmed that they had indeed been broken into,” Chen said.
He noted that another room had also been targeted, though cleaners had already tidied up the area by the time officials arrived. Several almirahs were found forced open, with metal rods on drawers bent from forceful attempts to pry them.
“Cash is missing, though the exact amount is not yet known. We are still verifying whether any important files or documents are missing,” he added.
Chen further revealed that CCTV footage, examined along with system analysis, showed two individuals entering the premises around 6 am. “One went upstairs while the other went downstairs. One person was seen wearing a mask, while the other had his head covered,” he said.
During the inspection, officials recovered a sweater and a bag near a window, believed to have been left behind by the intruders.
Following standard procedure and approval, the FIR was filed and signed by the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
The Council has three chowkidars (security guards) stationed on the premises. Preliminary suspicions suggest the intruders may have entered through a skylight while the chowkidars were on the ground floor.
The chowkidars claimed they did not hear any suspicious sounds but said they noticed some individuals moving around. When questioned, the individuals reportedly claimed they were collecting items, after which the chowkidars chased them away.
The investigation is ongoing to identify the culprits and determine the full extent of the loss.
