IGP (zone-I) Themthing Ngasagva on Wednesday said that those who purchased used vehicles without proper documents are to surrender themselves along with the vehicles to a police station or authority concerned before the police starts taking necessary actions such.
Speaking to the media at the conference hall of superintendent of police, Imphal West, Ngasangva said that considering the increasing cases of vehicle thefts and means to control the menace, an ‘Anti-Vehicle Theft’ cell have been re-constituted by the director general of Police on March 29 under the overall supervision of the ADGP (law and order). The cell is now operating with the objective to check vehicle theft cases in the state, he said.
The cell is also taking necessary steps for identification of vehicle lifter gangs operating in the state including inter-state gangs and arresting of such gang members in coordination with the Motor Vehicles department, Manipur. The cell is also taking various initiatives to detect and crack all vehicle theft cases and keeping a check on the vehicles in Manipur, added Ngasangva.
The Anti-Vehicle Theft cell was constituted two-three years ago, he further said, adding, the vehicle theft complaints were getting decreased due to the outbreak of the pandemic. At present, complaints of vehicle theft have been increasing and therefore, the cell was reconstituted again, he added.
Almost all the vehicle theft cases will be reconsidered in order to find out the gang members involved in the vehicle theft, he said. Even some of the police from outside the state have started sending summons as stolen vehicles from outside the state have started recovering from Manipur, said Ngasangva.
He further said that one scooter (Activa 5G) white in colour bearing registration number MN01AF-7476 parked in front of CID office, Babupara was found stolen at around 12.30 pm on Tuesday. With immediate action from Imphal West police, the stolen vehicle was recovered on the same day, said the senior police officer.
During investigation, it came to light that the vehicle met with an accident at Meeitei Lamkhai with another vehicle. In the course of the inquiry, it came to light that the driver, one Danish Khan, 19, son of Abdul Karim of Lilong Mayai Leikai had lifted the vehicle.
On examination, Danish revealed that the mastermind behind the crime was one Md Wajid alias Muthi who came with him to commit the crime. Wajid also promised to pay Rs 5,000 to drive the vehicle towards Lilong Bazaar after stealing it from the spot; however, Wajit is at large, Ngasangva added.
Danish further disclosed that Wajid was involved in different vehicle theft cases.
He also revealed that the group operates in Imphal West and East district to steal vehicles. The other gang members have been identified as Md Wajid alias Muthi, 19, son of Md Abdul Salam of Lilong Haoreibi Mayai Leikai ; Md Juber son of Md Jaher Ali of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai and Md Momocha alias Islao Rahman alias Sharif of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai, said Ngasangva.
He said that the police department is also looking into some important cases related to vehicle theft cases. One of the cases occurred on March 15 at about 6.30 pm where three gang members were arrested and investigation is still going on, he said.
Another case occurred on December 26 last year, during which one swift car was hit by an unknown red colour car at Ningthoukhong Project gate and fled away. The said vehicle, Honda City bearing registration number WB-02V-6871 was found abandoned somewhere at Kwakta, he said.
During investigation, it was revealed that the car belonged to one Khullakpam Boboicha, son of Kh Munir Khan of Lilong Makha Leikai but the said person turned out to be fictitious, he mentioned.
On further investigation, the owner of the seized vehicle was reportedly taking shelter in a house of one V Somilien Vaiphei, son of late Dikhual of Torbung, he mentioned.
The senior police officer continued that Bishnupur district police raided the place and some incriminating articles such as set of vehicle keys; vehicle registration plates; seals having imprints of different DTOs; IND number plates; rapid gun; blank PVC cards and others were found; however, the accused is still at large.
Ngasangva appealed to the public to park their vehicles only in the authorised parking area as notified by the authority concerned or in a secured private parking area.
The police department also urged the parking operators to install security gadgets including CCTV cameras in the allotted parking space to prevent, deter and detect vehicle theft cases.
He further appealed to the general public to secure their vehicles at home in their parking areas and not to park their vehicles on the road at night or during daytime.
DIGP (Range-I and II), K Kabib; both superintendent of police of Imphal East and West and additional superintendent of police M Amit also attended the press conference.
