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Dimapur, April 1 (MExN): In a major breakthrough, Dimapur Police have arrested two prime absconding accused from Bengaluru in connection with a harrowing case of abduction, gang-rape, and extortion that took place on a highway stretch in July 2024.
The arrests, made in a coordinated operation with Bengaluru City Police, have exposed an organised criminal network allegedly involved in a pattern of similar offences across multiple jurisdictions, reported the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime)/PRO, Dimapur in an official update.
The case came to light with the registration of an FIR (Case No. 12/2024) at the Women Police Station in Dimapur on July 25, 2024, following a complaint about offences committed three days earlier.
According to the police, on the early morning of July 22, 2024, a woman and her relative were travelling along the four-lane highway near Old Showuba Area, Dimapur, when a group of individuals waylaid them. The victims were forcibly intercepted, blindfolded and transported against their will to an undisclosed location where they were wrongfully confined.
Police reports stated that ‘The female victim was sexually assaulted by multiple perpetrators.’ Both victims were physically assaulted and coerced under duress into transferring money through digital payment platforms. Personal property including mobile phones, cash, and gold ornaments were forcibly seized from the victims. The accused further threatened the victims with the public circulation of compromising images and recordings with intent to deter disclosure, it added.
Following the registration of the FIR, a structured investigation was launched. Initial evidence led to the identification of multiple accused as part of a pre-meditated criminal network. Analysis of the initial evidence led to identification of multiple accused persons as part of a pre-meditated criminal network that had allegedly committed similar offences prior to the present case. “The group had operated in a coordinated manner, targeting vulnerable persons along highway stretches.”
Coordinated arrest operations were launched to apprehend the identified accused, the police said. In one operation, a suspect attempting to evade arrest met with an accident during a police pursuit and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. A case in that matter was registered and charge-sheeted at Niuland Police Station.
Another accused, directly linked to the extortion transactions, was arrested earlier, with stolen gold ornaments positively identified by the victim recovered from his possession.
After a sustained and intensive investigation, the Dimapur Police, acting on specific and credibnle technical intelligence pinpointing the location of two primary absconding accused in Bengaluru, Karnataka. A dedicated team led by the Investigating Officer (IO) departed Dimapur on March 28, 2026. Upon arrival, the team conducted a coordinated reconnaissance with Bengaluru City Police, leading to the successful apprehension of the two accused from the Ramanna Layout area under the jurisdiction of Kothanuru Police Station, Bengaluru.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vikekhe Yeptho, 34, and Hesato Yeptho, 28. Police noted that the two are also wanted in connection with cognate offences registered at Chümoukedima Police Station, establishing a pattern of repeat offending across jurisdictions.
Citing strong prima facie evidence of organised criminal activity involving abduction, sexual assault, extortion and robbery along highway stretches, Dimapur Police have issued a public appeal for information regarding similar incidents. Authorities have assured that the identity of all complainants, witnesses and informants will be maintained in strict confidentiality. Information can be shared at the dedicated number: 7085065058.
“Dimapur Police remains committed to the strict enforcement of law and the protection of the rights and dignity of all persons, in accordance with the law,” stated the officer.
