Arunachal: Itanagar Police Bust Gang of Professional Thieves Involved in High-Profile Thefts

ITANAGAR: The Itanagar Police have successfully dismantled a gang of professional thieves responsible for a string of high-profile thefts across the Itanagar Capital Region.

The arrests followed a month-long investigation led by Inspector K. Yangfo, Officer-in-Charge of PS Itanagar, and a dedicated team comprising SI RK Jha, SI Padam Padi, SI Tana Suraj, and SI Samuel Ngupok.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of SDPO Kengo Dirchi and the guidance of SP Rohit Rajbir Singh, IPS.

In a press release, the Capital Police revealed that the gang’s criminal activities had been ongoing for several months. On December 11, 2024, a complaint was lodged about Rs 3,00,000 being stolen from a car parked outside the SBI Itanagar branch. The suspects had executed the theft by scattering fake currency notes to distract the victim and seizing a cash bag during the commotion.

Just two days earlier, on December 9, another incident was reported by Milli Ossen, who discovered cash stolen from her scooty parked in the V-Mart basement at Ganga Market. An earlier case, dating back to October 28, involved ATM engineer Dipak Deori, who reported the theft of Rs 1,50,000 along with personal documents while servicing a cash deposit machine at SBI's Main Branch.

The police employed a blend of technical surveillance and local intelligence to track down the gang. Investigations revealed that the suspects operated within Itanagar before escaping to other states, including West Bengal, to avoid capture.

Acting on a tip-off, officers arrested two suspects near SBI Itanagar on January 3, 2025. Following confessions from the initial arrests, a third suspect was subsequently apprehended at Harmutty Railway Station.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Chandan Gowala (57) and Rakesh (47), both residents of Rajganj in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and Deepak Sharma (57), a resident of Baradari, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The gang carried out their crimes using a motorcycle with a fake registration number.

The police disclosed that the gang focused on banks and parking areas, carefully monitoring individuals handling large sums of cash. They used distraction tactics, such as scattering fake currency notes or spitting on victims, to carry out thefts. Their advanced age and temporary residence in Arunachal Pradesh allowed them to blend in seamlessly and evade suspicion.

SP (ICR) Rohit Rajbir Singh (IPS) commended the team for their dedication and prompt action in resolving the cases. He also encouraged the public to stay alert, refrain from leaving large amounts of cash unattended in vehicles, and promptly report any suspicious activity near banks.

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