Six accused in interstate ATM theft racket remanded in four-day police custody

SHILLONG, March 16: A local court here on Monday remanded six accused, involved in an interstate ATM theft racket, in four days of police custody.
According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, the accused were produced before the court and subsequently remanded for further investigation.
Earlier on Sunday, the Special Cell of the East Khasi Hills Police conducted a crime reconstruction at an ATM booth in Mylliem as part of the probe into the robbery racket.
Police investigations revealed that the gang is linked to at least three major ATM thefts in the district.
These theft cases include the looting of Rs 28.13 lakh from Mawkriah on May 21, 2025, Rs 35.57 lakh from Smit on December 30, 2025, and Rs 35 lakh from Mylliem on February 8, 2026.
The accused have been identified as Salim (36) of Haryana, who is believed to be the technician responsible for cutting open the ATM machines, and Rahul (31), also from Haryana, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the thefts.
Local facilitators include John Fishal Lyngkhoi (32) and Joyous Dura (47), a former constable of the Special Operations Team (SOT), both residents of Shillong.
The other two suspects are Rejaul Korim (38) and Lius Ali (28), both from Assam.