Shillong, April 29: A two-year-old ATM break-in case at Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district has been solved with the busting of an inter-state gang involved in a series of ATM thefts across multiple states.
According to the press release from the Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, he informed that the incident had occurred on April 5, 2024, at an ATM of Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd, Bhoirymbong branch. Following the theft, a case was registered at Umiam Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the SP, the case initially had very limited leads. However, considering the seriousness of the crime and possible inter-state links, a special investigation team was constituted under the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), Ri-Bhoi, and functioned under the close supervision of the DIG (Eastern Range), Shillong.
In a coordinated operation, Meghalaya Police, with assistance from Assam and Haryana Police, busted an organised gang linked to ATM cash thefts across the country. The gang is suspected to be involved in multiple cases in Meghalaya, including in Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills and North Garo Hills.
So far, six persons have been arrested. Police said the gang was highly specialised, using gas cutters to break open ATM safes and uproot machines before fleeing with cash within minutes, mainly targeting remote locations with minimal security.
The SP added that further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the network and identify additional links.
