By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 13: In a major breakthrough, the Special Cell of East Khasi Hills Police has dismantled an interstate gang behind a series of professional ATM thefts in the district, through coordinated arrests across Meghalaya, Haryana, and Assam.
The six accused arrested are Salim (36), resident of Dorakhi, Mewat, Haryana – identified as one of the main operators responsible for cutting open the ATMs; Rahul (31), resident of Bazidpur/Wajidpur, Nuh district, Haryana, who is described as a key conspirator and mastermind in the heists; John Fishal Lyngkhoi (32), resident of Umpling, Shillong, a local facilitator with a criminal history, including alleged involvement in other offences; Joyous Dura (47), resident of Mawlai Nongkwar, Shillong, a former constable of the Special Operations Team (SOT), and currently acting as a local facilitator; Rejaul Korim (38), resident of Chakla under Abhayapuri Police Station, Bongaigaon, Assam; and Lius Ali (28), resident of Boragaon, Seujinagar under Gorchuk Police Station, Guwahati.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the arrests on Friday, highlighting the gang’s high level of professionalism. Each theft was executed in approximately seven minutes, marking one of the first instances of such precision and speed in the region.
The three reported incidents include Rs 28,13,100 stolen from an ATM booth at Mawkriah on May 21, 2025; Rs 35,57,000 looted from an ATM at Smit on December 30, 2025 and looting of Rs 35 lakh from an ATM booth at Mylliem on February 8, 2026. Cases were registered at Mawngap and Madanrting Police Stations under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The operation was led by the Special Cell of East Khasi Hills Police. A seven-member team, headed by Dy SP (Operations) Simseng Sangma, was dispatched to Nuh district, Haryana, on February 27. Coordinating with the Central Investigation Agency Nuh, they arrested Salim and Rahul on March 10 from Nuh city and Pingwan. Both were granted five days of police custody. On Thursday, a team led by Dy SP (Crime) Bipul Das arrested Rejaul Korim and Lius Ali from their respective locations in Assam.
Local facilitators John Fishal Lyngkhoi and Joyous Dura were apprehended in Shillong and remanded to six days of police custody. Investigators noted that the locals surveyed and identified vulnerable ATMs, and both have prior criminal records, including alleged links to drug trafficking and other activities.
Several incriminating items were recovered from the accused during the probe.
In a related development, on March 10, while a Meghalaya Police team was escorting Rahul to Nuh for transit remand after producing him in court, he allegedly attempted to grab the steering wheel of the police vehicle, leading to a scuffle near Sikrawa village.
A mob of around 30 people then surrounded the team, vandalised the vehicle, and tried to snatch weapons in an attempt to free him.
Police fired warning shots (including blanks) to disperse the crowd; a ricochet bullet injured one individual (Tarif Khan) on the leg, who is recovering at PGIMS Rohtak.
A case has been registered in Haryana’s Nuh Police Station against 12 unidentified/named persons under relevant sections, with investigations ongoing.
Syiem emphasised the arrests stemmed from seamless coordination with Haryana, Assam, and Nuh police forces.
“We are committed to public safety. This reflects our teams’ dedication. The investigation continues to trace any remaining links or accomplices in this multi-state network,” he said.
