Shillong, March 13: Six persons, including a former constable of the Special Operations Team, were arrested by the police in connection with the theft of cash from three ATMs in parts of East Khasi Hills.
East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem told reporters on Friday that three cases of ATM theft were registered in East Khasi Hills District in recent months.
The first incident occurred on May 21, 2025, when the ATM booth located at Mawkriah was robbed by miscreants, in which cash Rs 28,13,100 was stolen. Subsequently, on December 30.2025, another ATM booth at Smit was targeted, and cash Rs 35,57,000 was stolen. In a similar incident on February 8, 2026, an ATM booth at Mylliem was robbed by miscreants, and around Rs 35,00,000 was stolen.
Following the registration of cases, an investigation was carried out on February 27, and a seven-member team of the Special Cell, East Khasi Hills, under Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operation) Simseng Sangma, was sent to Haryana Nuh District to arrest the accused.
On March 9, the seven-member police team began to conduct coordinated operations with the help of the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) of Nuh district to arrest the accused involved in the ATM thefts.
“As a result of their efforts, two accused, namely Salim (26), a resident of Dorakhi, Mewat, Haryana and Rahul (31), a resident of Bazidpur, Nuh district, Haryana, who were involved, were arrested from Nuh City and Pingwan on March 10 and five days’ police custody was granted. The local facilitators, namely John Fishal Lyngkhoi (32), a resident of Umpling, Shillong and Joyous Dura (47), a resident of Mawlai Nongkwar, were also arrested from Shillong.
Joyous Dura is the former SOT of Meghalaya Police, while Lyngkhoi is an ex-HNLC cadre
Six days’ police remand has been granted to the two -John Fishal Lyngkhoi and Joyous Dura.
On March 12, a team of the Special Cell, East Khasi Hills, headed by Dy. Superintendent of Police (Crime), East Khasi Hills, Bipul Das, also arrested Rejaul Korim (38) from Chakla under Abhayapuri P.S, Bongaigoan, and Lius Ali (28 ), a resident of Boragaon, Seujinagar under Gorchuk P.S. Incriminating items have been seized from the possession of all accused.
Cases were registered under Mawngap PS Case No. 26(05)2025 u/s 11/3(5)/305(A)/326(F) BNS, Madanrting PS Case No. 209(12)2025 u/s 306(a)(e)/324(2)(3)(5)/ 326(f)(g)/329(2)/111/3(5) BNS and Mawngap PS Case No. 11(2)2026 u/s 305(a)/111/ 326(f)/ 3(5) BNS
