Thoubal police bust seven member vehicle lifters gang
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 23 2009: In a major and successful crack down, Thoubal District Police have nabbed seven members of a vehicle-lifters' gang.

Moreover, a number of forged Government seals/rubber stamps, forged vehicle documents, emblems of two UG groups, one car (Maruti Zen) and a motorcycle have also been seized.

The lead to the crack down was provided by an RC book of a Maruti Zen car (MN04A/3674) submitted to Thoubal District Transport Officer Simon Keishing after changing the name of the RC card holder.

Clay Khongsai Briefing Media

Speaking to media persons at Thoubal police station this afternoon, SSP Clay Khongsai said that one Aheibam Tomba (59) of Chajing Konjengbam Leikai came to the DTO to change the registration of a Maruti Zen car after buying it at Rs 98,000 .

The DTO detected that the RC number of the car was never allotted and that the signature appended at the card was a forged one.

On further examination of the RC card, it was found that the card was registered in the name of one Meisnam Rajkumar Singh (27) s/o Brajamani of Naoremthong Khumanthem Leikai.

Following intimation about the matter to Thoubal Police, Aheibam Tomba who bought the car and came to the DTO to change the name of registration was pulled up on June 20 .

Acting on the disclosure of Tomba, Meisnam Rajkumar, Md Habib (37) s/o Qutub of Hatta Golapati, Akoijam Shyamchand (30) s/o Biren of Singjamei Oinam Thingel and Khundom Sunil (38) s/o Hero of Khurai Puthiba Leikai were also pulled up on the same day, the SSP said.

Further, Hidam Priyokumar (35) s/o Heramot of Hiyangthang Maning Leikai and Moirangthem Ranjit (43) s/o late Modhu of New Checkon were apprehended the next day.

On June 22, proprietor of Chingkhei Rubber Stamp and Co, located at Paona Keithel, Thokchom Birjit (35) s/o Achou of Phaknung Awang Keithel was also pulled up.

Identifying the key players of the vehicle-lifters' network as Priyokumar of Hiyangthang, Ranjit of New Checkon, Birjit of Phaknung and absconding Wayenbam Premchand alias Gorajao (35) of Khurai Ningthoubung Leikai, the SSP said that Ranjit is an expert in forging signature of DTO S Keishing.

Birjit was the manufacturer and supplier of Ashoka and Kanglasha emblems of PREPAK and PULF and seals/rubbers stamps of Government officials.

Out of 21 seals recovered from Birjit, there were seals of DTO Deogarh (Orissa), DM Imphal West, Motor Licensing and Registering Authority of Imphal West, Oath Commissioner, Assam Rifles Zonal Recruiting and II in-charge of 167th Bn CRPF.

Saying that one Nityai of Uripok is also a key member of the gang, Clay Khongsai said that one Yamaha Enticer (MN-06S/4888) was seized during a raid at his home today.

However, Nityai was found absconding.

Md Habib of Hatta, Shyamchand of Singjamei Oinam Thingel, Sunil of Khurai Puthiba and Rajkumar of Naoremthong acted as middlemen of the gang.

Shyamchand also ran a Buyer and Seller shop at RIMS Road.

Aheibam Tomba who unwittingly bought the car has been released considering his health condition.

The other seven were produced before CJM Thoubal today who remanded them to police custody till June 26 .

Further investigation is on, said SSP Clay Khongsai.