In a major breakthrough, Kohima Police have arrested a local resident, Kekietuo, for his involvement in a string of high-profile burglaries across the city, including the recent theft of nearly Rs 1 crore from the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) Office on June 3.
The accused has confessed to 11 burglaries since August 2023, with the total estimated loss at Rs 1.5 crore.
Addressing the media on June 21, Additional SP and PRO K. Soriso Quinker stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted for the KMC case. Investigators relied on forensic tools, surveillance footage, and intelligence gathering, with suspicious post-heist spending by Kekietuo providing key leads.
The burglaries spanned educational institutions like Baptist College, Kohima College, and Oriental College, government offices including the North Treasury, private showrooms like Nexa and Toyota, and other government and private establishments. Police confirmed that Kekietuo’s confession linked the cases. Efforts are underway to recover the stolen funds, especially the large sum from the KMC. Authorities suspect additional unreported incidents may be connected to the accused.
In a separate case, Kohima Police also solved the theft of 675 grams of heroin from the Prosecution Inspector’s Court evidence room. The main suspect, Kevichutuo Cüze (28), was arrested on June 13 and remanded to judicial custody.
Kohima SP Teisovise Metha commended the investigation team, calling the breakthrough a testament to their diligence and technical expertise.
Following the arrests, the Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO) issued a press release, congratulating the police team, including the Officer-in-Charge of the North Police Station, for apprehending Kekietuo, described as a long-standing menace to the citizens of Kohima. KVYO also expressed gratitude to the Superintendent of Police and his staff for their dedication and professional expertise.
