Imphal, September 03, 2010: Following revelations by a youth caught by people on the alleged charge of stealing mobile handsets at Singjamei market, a racket of looting shops dealing with the item was unearthed today.

Three members of the racket were nabbed in the follow up action to the disclosure made by Huiningsubam Suresh @ Tombung @ Tom (18) son of the H.Tomba of Singjamei Chingamakha Kshetri Leikai.

He was nabbed by the public at Singjamei Bazar today.

The other three members later caught by the people were Thingujam Somi son of Subash of Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai, Longjam Basanta (41) son of late L.Ibocha of Ethai presently residing at Singjamei Chinga Makha and Soibam Sanker (18) son of S.Sunil of Chinga Makha Liwa Lambi.

In a series of robberies in Singjamei Bazar, mobile handsets worth around Rs 10.50 lakhs had been looted in recent times.

With people on the alert to nab the looters, a mobile handset shop was attempted to be looted in the early hours today.

A resident of Singjamei Chirom Leikai, who happened to spot some persons trying to break the padlock of the Fancy Station shop, alarmed the residents.

However, the looters had fled before residents rushed towards the shop.

It was at about 3 am.The proprietor of the shop RK Ibotomba of Chirom Leikai arrived at his shop and with the gathered people investigated how the looters had attempted to loot the shop.

They found evidence that they tried to steal the goods after entering from a ventilator of another shop which led to the mobile dealing shop.

On further examination, they found a bag containing pliers, two T-shirts, one recharge coupon, a Honda battery, and a whisky (Bagpiper) bottle.

With people unhappy that the looters made good their escape, Suresh came back to the shop and asked to buy a recharge card.

Suspicion of his nature, locals gathered there detained him and conducted a body search on him.

During the search, many injury marks apparently inflicted while trying to enter a narrow hole were detected on his body.

On seeing the injury marks, the locals interrogated him.

He admitted that he was among the persons who attempted to steal the mobile handsets of the shop.

He disclosed that one of looters, Sumi, remained outside the shop to keep a watch on people while he was trying to loot the shop.

Sumi was not at home when some people went to his house which is not far away from Singjamei Bazar.

Later, on interrogation, Sumi informed that the stolen items were deposited in a house belonging to one Longjam Basanta of Singjamei Chinga Makha.

Immediately, Basanta was picked up from his house but he denied having any links with the robberies.

After a beating by the locals, Basanta admitted his links with the robbers and identified the other members of the gang behind the stealing of more than 100 mobile handsets in the intervening night of July 27 and 28. He further admitted that the robbery was performed by a 10 member gang, out of which four are police personnel.

Later, the duo were handed over to the Singjamei police who further interrogated them and caused arrest of two more members of the gang.

Police conducting a raid at the house of Basanta also seized some spare parts of mobile handsets.

Taking serious note on the alleged involvement of police personnel in the robbery case, Senior SP, Imphal West, L Kailun told Hueiyen Lanpao that police has started investigations into the charges levelled against the police personne.

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