Shillong, March 16: The East Khasi Hills Police on Sunday took the arrested suspects involved in a series of ATM thefts to Mylliem to recreate how they broke open and cut through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the State Bank of India (SBI) and withdrew cash using specialized tools. The reconstruction was conducted at the SBI ATM in Mylliem where the accused demonstrated the method used to damage the machine and extract the money. According to police, the theft at the Mylliem ATM occurred on February 8, 2026, during which ₹35 lakh was stolen.
The East Khasi Hills District Court has granted the police four days’ custody of the six accused for further interrogation. The suspects are believed to be involved in a series of ATM thefts in the district, including incidents at Mawkriah, Smit, and Mylliem, which took place between May 2025 and February 2026. The total amount looted from these ATMs is estimated to be close to ₹1 crore.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, the police produced the accused at the court after taking them for medical examination at Civil Hospital, Shillong, as part of the legal procedure.
The six arrested individuals have been identified as Salim (26) from Dorakhi, Mewat, Haryana, Rahul (31) from Nuh District, Haryana, John Fishal Lyngkhoi (32) from Umpling, Shillong, Joyous Dura (47) from Mawlai Nongkwar, Shillong, Rejaul Korim (38) from Assam and Lius Ali (28) from Assam
Police revealed that Joyous Dura, a resident of Mawlai Nongkwar, is a dismissed SOT (Special Operations Team) police personnel who allegedly turned to crime.
Investigations indicate that the group was involved in multiple ATM thefts in East Khasi Hills firstly at Mawkriah ATM (May 21, 2025) ₹28,13,100 stolen, second at Smit ATM (December 30, 2025) ₹35,57,000 stolen and the third at Mylliem ATM (February 8, 2026) ₹35 lakh stolen. Police said the accused used specialized tools to cut open the ATMs and extract the cash.
Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine if the group is linked to other ATM thefts in the region.
