An FIR, a runaway con-artist, a dead phone number

How a cop cracked a case during pandemic lockdown

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 16

When it comes to fighting like military units, the Nagaland Police, especially its Armed Branch would certainly stand out. It is a distinction that has had other states in India or the Union Home Ministry frequently requisitioning the Nagaland Armed Police Battalions, particularly the India Reserve units, for counter-insurgency deployments beyond the state borders.  

The combat recognition won by the Armed battalions over the years has rather overshadowed the other face of the Nagaland Police— the work of the Unarmed Branch, also known as the District Executive Force(s), which is tasked with routine policing and crime investigation. 

This year however, the Unarmed Branch has taken the cake with one of its officers not only receiving the Nagaland Governor’s Gold Medal for outstanding performance but also the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation. 

The officer, Unarmed Branch Sub-inspector (SI) Temsuyangba Ao was one among 152 police personnel from across the country listed for the Union Home Minister’s award and one of two from the Nagaland Police listed for the Governor’s Medal. 

Presently posted at West Police Station, Dimapur, SI Temsuyangba (44 years), as per the internal department lore, has a good track record as an Investigation Officer, successfully completing investigation of the majority of cases that has come his way over a career spanning 24 years. 

There was one case however that was instrumental in getting the attention of the powers that be. According to him, the case was nothing out of the ordinary but one that was investigated under trying circumstances during the peak of the COVID-19 first wave in 2020. 

There was no high tech gadgetry involved, just the tried and tested methods— intelligence networking and importantly, resourcefulness.  

The investigation was related to a complaint about a con-artist swindling some Rs 27 lakhs from as many 12 individuals (complainants). “The FIR was filed in March 2020 about a fraud by one person, who claimed to be a captain in the Army.” The accused had reportedly offered employment in the Army in exchange for cash and had also handed away fake recruitment certificates. 

He said that it was like the accused had disappeared without a trace and the only lead available was an unused phone number. “There was no other way of tracking him. And there was the lockdown which further made the situation difficult for investigation,” he said. 

Temsuyangba persevered, networking and compiling as many clues as he can from his pool of “sources.” Finally, there was a breakthrough in June when the whereabouts of the absconding accused was confirmed and an elaborate plan was worked out to lure him to come to Dimapur from Assam. It worked.

The accused was nabbed without a need to resort to force in June, which further resulted in the arrest of two more accomplices in the same month. The investigation was successfully completed in November when the charges were framed against the accused in court. 

During the course of the investigation, it also unraveled that a similar case was also pending against the accused in Wokha and two others were arrested by the Wokha police.  

As for the Governor’s Medal, he said that it was likely a result of his work during his career. In this, one case stood out. It was a kidnapping (of a child) for ransom, which occurred in February 2021. According to him, the victim was rescued unharmed the same day the complaint was filed and 8 individuals linked to the crime arrested.  

Queried on the challenges facing Investigation Officers or IOs in the Nagaland Police today, he listed “over-work” and lack of investigative modern aids. By “over-work” he implied the additional clerical works an IO is compelled to do, which often comes in the way of investigation of complaints and increasing case pendency.

“We need more IOs. On most occasions, IOs are consumed by paperwork, which often impacts pace of investigation,” he said. 

In addition to augmenting forensic capability, including cyber aids, he said that having special cells, in other words— ‘division of labour,’ would greatly aid crime investigation. Specialized cyber investigation cells in every district or even at each police station would be another optimizing factor in investigation, he added. 

Beside the recent introduction to cyber tech, at present, fingerprint-lifting is the only available investigative aid to the IOs in Nagaland, while a lack of expertise in preparing ‘exhibits’ or evidence samples for detailed forensic analysis in laboratories outside the state and the additional time of waiting for results becomes time consuming affairs.