Kohima: Nagaland Police have arrested a state government employee accused of involvement in 11 burglaries across Kohima, including a heist at the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) office where nearly Rs. 1 crore was stolen.
The accused, identified as Kekietuo, is an employee of the Chief Engineer’s Office of the Police Engineering Project.
He confessed to the crimes following his arrest on Friday.
The arrest followed a two-week investigation led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kohima Police, constituted after the June 3 KMC office break-in.
Using advanced forensic tools, surveillance, financial tracking, and intelligence gathering, investigators were able to crack the case.
Police recovered Rs. 38 lakh in cash from Kekietuo’s residence in T Khel Kohima Village.
Vehicles allegedly purchased using stolen funds were also seized, along with over 50 items linked to the crimes.
The accused admitted to stealing Rs. 45 lakh from Baptist College Kohima in August 2023, Rs. 22.5 lakh from D Khel Kohima Village in January 2024, Rs. 10.83 lakh from the Entrepreneurs Development Agency, and Rs. 95 lakh from the KMC office, among other thefts, totaling Rs. 1.86 crore.
The accused reportedly used sophisticated methods to avoid detection, including gloves, masks, and avoiding CCTV cameras, leaving no physical evidence.
While preliminary investigations indicate he acted alone, police are exploring whether he received inside information from targeted institutions.
Unusual spending patterns flagged by intelligence units led to the suspect, with authorities coordinating with showrooms and tracking high-value transactions. CCTV footage further tied Kekietuo to one of the crimes.
Additional SP and PRO Kohima Police, K. Soriso, stated that the arrest underscores the department’s commitment to public safety.
Efforts are now focused on recovering the remaining stolen property and identifying potential accomplices.
The accused, who has served in the government for over 15 years, remains in custody as investigations continue.
Formal charges will be filed shortly, with police working to ensure justice is served and stolen assets are recovered.
