Stealing / losing vehicles to claim insurance: Three in police custody

EMN
Kohima, March 19

Kohima police have arrested three persons on charges of stealing a vehicle to claim insurance later. On the night of March 18, Kohima police personnel manning Khuzama check gate were frisking and checking vehicles when they happened into an Ashok Leyland (AS-25A-9594, chassis: MB1AA22E1FRE90468, engine: PFH23376) on suspicion.
The driver of the vehicle, one Modokho Chichie, 42 years of Pudenamei village in Senapati of Manipur, and his accomplice one Thepfuzolie, 43 years, of Naga United Village under Dimapur were detained in this connection for questioning, police informed in a press release issued on Thursday. “However, one of the occupant identified as Hussain managed to escape under the cover of darkness. During investigation, is came to light that Modokho Chichie had met Hussain at Naga Cemetery Dimapur at around 3:00-4:00 PM on March 18 wherein Modokho paid a sum of Rs. 2.5 lakhs to absconder Hussain who brought the vehicle from Assam,” the police informed.
“The vehicle in question was to be delivered to one Benco Mao at Imphal. Hussain agreed to accompany accused Modokho and Thepfuzolie till the vehicle is delivered. Subsequently, the trio, while proceeding to Imphal, were intercepted at Khuzama Check Gate Kohima,” the police said.
Upon interrogation, Modokho is said to have revealed that Hussain was to lodge an FIR in Assam claiming that the vehicle had been stolen. That way, police said, they would claim insurance benefits and would be making double.
The authorities stated: “It was detected by the duty party that, the vehicle key used by the accused for ignition did not match with the manufacturer’s specifications however, they managed to start the vehicle by using the said master key. All documents recovered from the vehicle were Xerox copies and the vehicle is found registered in the name of one Md. Azizul Islam S/O Late Ali Hussain of Tezpur, Dist-Sonitpur, and for which, extensive investigation will be conducted.”
Also, during investigations carried out by the newly-constituted anti-vehicle theft squad of the District Executive Force of Kohima, one more person, identified as one Md.Mustafa, 31 years, of Laurighat in Assam was nabbed from Dimapur today at around 1pm. The person was brought to
Kohima.