Failed bank burglary leads to arson in Kohima

KOHIMA — Unidentified miscreants tried to loot the Nagaland State Co-operative Bank Ltd. located at PR Hill in Kohima, by breaking into the office but failed, before the building was believed to be set on fire.

The incident came to light on Wednesday morning when a tenant alerted the bank staff on noticing smoke emanating from the building, who in turn sent her son to assess the situation, after which the South Kohima Fire Station was informed.

The South Fire Station’s second Officer-in-Charge, Sevi Kera, told Eastern Mirror that it received information about the incident through a messenger around 7:15 am on Wednesday, following which the fire brigade and a fire tender were pressed into action to douse the fire.

Kera said that the perpetrators could have resorted to setting the office ablaze to conceal their crime after failing to access the cash.

Investigations revealed that the burglars forcibly entered the bank premises by breaking the gate and door locks but their efforts to open the secured locker proved futile, leaving the money untouched.

Sedevizo Hibo, the officer-in-charge of the South Fire Station, disclosed that the bank’s shutter was cracked-open, CCTVs broken, and computers found burnt. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the timely intervention prevented a major fire outbreak, he added.

PRO and Additional SP, Relo T Aye said that the incident was classified as an “attempt to break” into the bank, which ultimately “failed.”

A case has been registered at the South Police Station, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the matter. The team is diligently examining materials found at the crime scene, he said, while expressing optimism about apprehending the culprits.

Meanwhile, the bank authorities said that the affected branch has been temporarily closed and relocated to the main branch in Kohima. It also confirmed that no cash was taken away by the perpetrators during the incident.