In a major breakthrough, the Nagaland police arrested a state government employee in connection with a string of burglaries across Kohima, including a high-profile heist at the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) office where nearly ₹1 crore was stolen.
The accused, identified as Kekietuo, is an employee at the Chief Engineer’s Office under the Police Engineering Project. He was taken into custody on Saturday following an intensive two-week investigation spearheaded by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed after the June 3 KMC break-in.
Utilising advanced forensic tools, financial tracking, surveillance footage and intelligence inputs, investigators managed to crack the case. During a search at his residence in T Khel, Kohima Village, police recovered ₹38 lakh in cash, along with vehicles reportedly purchased using stolen funds and more than 50 incriminating items linked to the crimes.
Following his arrest, Kekietuo reportedly confessed to multiple thefts, including ₹95 lakh from the KMC office in June 2024, ₹45 lakh from Baptist College Kohima in August 2023, ₹22.5 lakh from D Khel Kohima Village in January 2024 and ₹10.83 lakh from the Entrepreneurs Development Agency. In total, the stolen amount is estimated to be ₹1.86 crore.
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The police revealed that the accused used meticulous methods to evade detection, such as gloves, masks and avoiding CCTV coverage to leave no physical trace. Intelligence units flagged suspicious spending patterns, which eventually led investigators to the suspect.
“Coordination with local showrooms and tracking of high-value transactions also played a key role in identifying him. CCTV footage linking Kekietuo to one of the crimes further strengthened the case,” said a police officer.
While initial evidence suggests he acted alone, police are probing the possibility of insider assistance from within the institutions that were targeted. Additional Superintendent of Police K Soriso, stressed that the arrest demonstrates the department’s resolve to uphold public safety and pursue justice rigorously.
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The accused, who has served in government service for over 15 years, remains in custody. Formal charges are expected to be filed shortly, as the police continue efforts to recover the remaining stolen assets and identify any possible accomplices.
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