SHILLONG: Meghalaya police have arrested six people, including two alleged kingpins from Haryana, in connection with three ATM robberies that netted nearly Rs 1 crore.
Addressing media persons on Friday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said a special cell traced Salim (36) and Rahul (31) to Nuh district in Haryana and picked them up on March 10, while local facilitators John Fishal Lyngkhoi and Joyous Dura were held in Shillong.
The six accused were involved in looting Rs 28.13 lakh from an ATM at Mawkriah on May 21, 2025; Rs 35.57 lakh at Smit on December 30, 2025; and Rs 35 lakh at Mylliem on February 8, 2026.
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The accused executed the robberies with military precision timing, taking roughly about seven minutes per job.
“We have actually never seen such professional people looting ATMs so fast,” Syiem said.
After registering three cases, two in Mawngap and one in Madanrting, a seven member team flew to Haryana on February 27.
Working with the CIA there, officers arrested out of state suspects Salim (36) and Rahul (31) on March 10, then picked up Shillong facilitators John F Lyngkhoi (32) and Joyous Dura (47).
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“These people are wanted in many such ATM cases in the country,” Syiem said, adding that the courts granted five days remand for Salim and Rahul and six days for the locals.
The hunt for ATM cutting gangs led to two additional arrests in Assam.
“On March 12 another team headed by DSP (Crime) left for Assam. Officers picked up Rijol Garim (38) from Jakhla in Bongaigaon district and last night Lius Ali (28) from Boragaon under Gorchuk police station,” the SP said, adding, “We found incriminating evidence against these people.”
Syiem stressed that the probe is far from closed.
“Investigation is still on to arrest some of the culprits who are absconding.”
He said the district police will endeavour to get all those culprits as soon as possible.
“As and when we interrogate, we will get to know more people,” Syiem said.
The SP said two accused arrested from Shillong had acted as local guides and have lengthy criminal histories.
“These people are local facilitators,” Syiem said, explaining that Assam contacts hired Haryana specialists and relied on the Shillong pair to survey the area and identify the ATMs to be looted.
He added that the local men are linked to drug trafficking, murder and other forms of criminal activities and have a history of crimes.
Crediting a team effort, he noted that SPs and DSPs in operations and city sections pieced the evidence together to get the bigger picture.
Responding to a question on whether one accused is related to a politician, he said, “I am not in the know. As to who they are related to is not part of the term of reference of the investigation.”
It may be mentioned that a crowd of roughly 30 people tried to free ATM theft accused Rahul during a Haryana escort on March 10, forcing officers to fire warning shots.
Syiem said Rahul had been produced in Nuh district court and was being returned to Nuh when the group accosted the team at Sikrawa, even attempting to snatch a weapon.
“They had to resort to blank shots. One bullet ricochet hit a person and that person is recovering,” Syiem said.
Haryana police have registered a case and identified 12 assailants.
The SP added that investigators have found no involvement of bank employees in the Meghalaya ATM robberies.