Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], April 8 (HBTV): A seven-member police team led by DSP Operations Sinsang Samar conducted an operation in Haryana, resulting in the arrest of two individuals involved in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) thefts across the country, particularly in the Northeast, officials said.
The accused have been identified as Salim (26) and Rahul (31).
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that three ATM thefts were reported in the district, carried out by highly trained individuals who took only about seven minutes to loot each machine, marking the first instance of such professional operations in the region.
'The first one occurred on May 21, 2025, where the ATM located at Mawkria was robbed and cash of INR 28,13,100 was stolen. Subsequently, on December 30, another ATM at Smit was looted, and cash of about INR 35,57,000 was stolen. Then on February 8, the last ATM looted was at Millev, and about INR 35,00,000 was stolen from there. These people were professionals. The time they took to actually steal from every ATM was roughly about seven minutes. We have never seen such professional looting of ATMs so far, and this is the first instance where we have seen people executing such thefts in such a short span of time,' he said.
The SP said that two cases were registered in Mawngap and one in Madanrting.
He added that following an investigation by the special cell, a seven-member team was deputed to Haryana on February 27. The team began operations on March 9 with the assistance of the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) of the New District, Haryana.
'As a result of these sustained efforts, two accused, who were wanted and involved in many ATM theft cases across the country, particularly in the Northeast, namely Salim (26) of Dorakhi and Rahul (31) of Bazidpur, were arrested,' he said.
He further stated that the main individuals involved in cutting open the ATMs were apprehended, following which local operations in Shillong led to the arrest of two facilitators.
'Following their arrest, local operations in Shillong were conducted, where we arrested two local facilitators, namely John Fisher Lingkhoi, 32, a resident of Umpleng, and Joyous Dora, 47, of Mawlai Mukwad. Both were arrested in Shillong after the operations in Haryana,' he said.
Police said that John Fisher Lingkhoi and Joyous Dora have been remanded in custody for six days, while Rahul and Salim have been remanded for five days, with assistance from local police.
(ANI)