In a major crackdown, Meghalaya Police have smashed a large international motorcycle theft ring, arresting 17 people, including 10 Bangladeshi nationals. The gang was stealing two-wheelers from Shillong and other parts of the state and smuggling them across the border to be sold in Bangladesh.
The police breakthrough happened in the early hours of September 4th. Officers were conducting a routine vehicle check at Mawmang in East Khasi Hills district when they spotted a suspicious scooter. The vehicle suddenly made a U-turn upon seeing the police checkpoint. After a short chase, the police managed to intercept the scooter.
They apprehended the pillion rider, 24-year-old Nehlang Lamare. The driver initially escaped but was later caught and identified as 18-year-old Klement Timung. During questioning, the pair confessed they had stolen the scooter from Shillong’s Lapalang area.
This initial arrest opened the floodgates for investigators. The Special Cell of East Khasi Hills police quickly arrested three more men from Dawki—Peter Pohrmen (18), Vicky Dkhar (20), and Romeo Ryngksai (24). Police say these men acted as crucial intermediaries, facilitating the handover of the stolen bikes to receivers from Bangladesh.
Following leads from these arrests, police conducted more raids and captured four more individuals, including a 15-year-old minor. The most significant part of the operation followed, with the arrest of 10 Bangladeshi nationals who were the intended buyers of the stolen vehicles. The group, which includes a 17-year-old, hails from Sylhet and Habiganj districts in Bangladesh.
This major bust has exposed a sophisticated cross-border smuggling network. Authorities describe it as a “well-structured international racket” that exploited the porous India-Bangladesh border. Police are continuing their investigations to track down other members linked to this syndicate.
In response, authorities have now heightened vigilance along key border routes to prevent such criminal gangs from operating in the future.
