Kohima police arrest prime suspect three months after theft from PI Court evidence room

DIMAPUR — Kohima Police have arrested the prime suspect in a case of brazen theft at the Prosecution Inspector's (PI) Court in Kohima, nearly three months after the incident.

In a press release on Sunday, Kohima Police announced the arrest of 28-year-old Kevichutuo Cüze on June 13. The daring burglary occurred during the early hours of March 22, between 1 and 2 am, when unknown individuals broke into the ‘Malkhanna’ (evidence storage room) of the PI Court.

The intruders made away with 45 soap cases containing an estimated 675 grams of suspected heroin, which had been kept as key evidence in ongoing court proceedings.

“This audacious theft of court property triggered an immediate high-priority investigation by Kohima Police. For nearly three months, officers worked tirelessly to track down those responsible for compromising a core pillar of the justice system,” it stated.

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The sustained police work culminated in the arrest of the main accused, Kevichutuo Cüze.

“Cüze has been remanded to judicial custody as the probe intensifies. Police are now focused on critical next steps which involves recovering the stolen heroin, uncovering accomplices and strengthening the case for a watertight prosecution,” it added.

Stolen truck recovered in Kohima

In another successful operation, Kohima Police on Sunday recovered a dumper truck reported stolen from Assam.

Acting on intelligence inputs, a team from Chiephobozou Police Station intercepted the stolen vehicle. The driver, who was operating the truck, was taken into custody.

“Demonstrating seamless cooperation, the recovered truck and the accused are being handed over to Assam Police. A team from Assam is en route to Kohima to take possession.

“This successful interception highlights the vigilance and efficiency of the Chiephobozou Police Station team and underscores the ongoing coordination between Kohima Police and their Assam counterparts in combating cross-border crime,” stated a press release.