SHILLONG, June 27: A spate of thefts reported from different parts of Meghalaya over the past few days has raised concerns over rising petty crimes, with motorcycles, mobile phones, electrical infrastructure, construction materials and even cattle being targeted by miscreants.
According to complaints lodged with the Meghalaya Police, several thefts were reported from East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills, causing losses running into several lakhs of rupees.
In one of the biggest thefts, Dinesh Acharya reported that unknown miscreants stole materials worth around Rs. 1.5 lakh from a temporary store at NEIGRIHMS on June 24.
In another incident, staff of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly apprehended an individual while he was allegedly attempting to steal electrical wires from the Assembly Secretariat building on June 22. The incident was reported by Robert Nongrum.
Vehicle thefts also featured prominently in the complaints.
Pallav Hajong reported that his motorcycle (ML-05AA-4880) was stolen from Police Bazar on June 22. Nehemaia Pasleiñ reported the theft of his motorcycle (ML-05P-5622) from his residence at Nongrah Nongpdeng on the same day, while Riborlang Kharumnuid’s motorcycle (ML-05Y-0226) was stolen from Ummir Mawsharoh village. Gabriel Richard Massar also reported the theft of his motorcycle (ML-05AG-1394) from Lumkshaid, Lower Mawprem, on June 23. In West Garo Hills, Azizur Islam lodged a complaint over the theft of his motorcycle (ML-06M-2268) from Magurmari Ferry Ghat on June 19.
Mobile phone thefts were also reported from Lapalang, where Gaurav Tomer and Yogendra Singh separately complained that their phones were stolen from their residences at Dong Mawbynna on the morning of June 23.
Other reported thefts included a music system worth around Rs. 25,000 stolen from a vehicle parked near Madan Football Ground in Umpling, as reported by Balarihun Madur, and bathroom fittings, electrical wires and accessories stolen from the artificial rock-climbing area at 58 GTC, Happy Valley, according to a complaint lodged by Nishant Thapa.
Infrastructure and utility-related thefts were also reported.
The Rangbah Shnong of Lumiablot, Nongthymmai, reported that 125 metres of CCTV cables were stolen between 3 am and 5 am on June 23. Bankerlang Lyngdoh reported that equipment worth around Rs. 1 lakh, including batteries, a solar panel, a lightning arrester and copper wires, was stolen from the Chibinang ARR Hydromet station in West Garo Hills. In Eastern West Khasi Hills, Banjoplang Kharjana reported the theft of a DG battery worth around Rs. 10,000 from a mobile tower at Myriaw village.
In West Garo Hills, the vice-chairman of Janapriya Higher Secondary School at Bholarbhita reported the theft of 20 solar batteries from the school premises on June 21.
Livestock theft also surfaced, with Danseng R. Marak reporting that five heads of cattle were stolen from his farm at Bawegre on the night of June 21. Police later recovered three of the stolen cattle.
In another case from West Garo Hills, a resident alleged that his son-in-law stole Rs. 5 lakh from his residence on June 5.
Police have registered cases in the respective incidents and investigations are under way to trace the accused and recover the stolen property.
