According to a police statement, the arrested individuals have been identified as Imtiyas Khan, 24, son of (late) Indadulla Khan from Chingya Leikai, Thoubal Moijing; Sanatomba Maibam,30, son of (late) Ayaruddin Maibam, Thoubal Moijing Wangmataba; and Noor Khan, 42, son of  Md Jaan, Thoubal Moijing Khong Manung.

On June 21, the three individuals had stolen 15 ‘Airtel joint’ boxes which were fixed in between Komlathabi and Chandel Oil pump, and they have admitted they are guilty of the crime, the police statement added.

After the ‘fiber side’ engineer of Airtel Company, Imphal Khumanthem Kirankumar lodged a written complaint report to the OC of Chandel Police Station regarding the stolen 15 Airtel joint boxes on June 22, a case was taken up at Chandel Police Station and investigations commenced.

Following investigations, the police were able to identify the three culprits involved in the theft and were kept under surveillance. And upon receiving specific information of the presence of the three individuals at Imphal on Monday, a team of Chandel police led by additional SP, Chandel Shankerjit Loitongbam, and OC Chandel Police Station Potshangbam Surjakumar under the supervision of SP Chandel L. Deben Singh rushed to Imphal. And the police team arrested the three culprits from a Car Wash located between Lilong Chajing and Langthabal.

A Maruti van bearing registration number MN 01AG 7332 which was used during the commission of the crime was also seized. Further, from the disclosure statement of the three culprits, all 15 ‘Airtel joint’ boxes were recovered from Heirangoithong Ningthemcha Karong in Imphal. The three arrested individuals along with the seized items have been handed over to Chandel Police station for necessary legal actions, the police statement added.