Gang members of inter-state robbers apprehended by Meghalaya police

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya police has apprehended a gang of inter-state robbers which has been spreading terror in the West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Police suspects that the gang has members from Bangladesh also.

According to police sources, for many years this gang had been carrying out dacoities and robberies especially in villages of West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills districts situated along the international border.

“The modus operandi of these groups is typical. Their mask-wearing members move in groups of 15 to 20 in vehicles. They don’t carry any sophisticated weapon/arms. They use simple equipments like crowbars and operate mostly during the late night hours — between midnight to 2 am,” police pointed out.

In January 2019, this gang had resorted to robberies in some churches across the Garo Hills. Subsequently, some members of this gang were arrested in this connection. After this police operation then, most of the gang members had either absconded or remained dormant.

In January 2020, they again started robberies at two places of South West Garo Hills and one place in West Garo Hillls. Following massive search operations launched by an inter-district special Police team, the members of the group absconded once again.

“After a series of operations in the intervening night of February 15 and 16, 2020, some gang members along with incriminating evidences were arrested from various places across the interstate border of Assam and Meghalaya,” police said.

Initially, the police arrested five members of the gang who have been identified as Jamaluddin, (46 years of age) — the kingpin and mastermind of the gang; Surat Jamal— the main gang member; Gazibur Rehman (22 years of age) of Belbari Under Phulbari Police Station, Ainal Hoque, and Romesh Ali Mondol of Ksolissamari. A stolen modified Bolero pick-up van used for robberies and dacoities was also recovered.

Later three more members of the gang were arrested. The police also recovered one stolen bike, with East Khasi Hills registration from their possession.

The West Garo Hills police team, responsible for cracking this criminal gang comprises the Additional Superintendent of Police in charge SDPO (D), two IPS probationers, co-ordinated by Additional Superintendent of Police, Tura, and assisted by Cyber Crime Investigation Center Tura, officers and personnel of the Hallidayganj Police Station. Necessary assistance was rendered by Assam Police.

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