Imphal: Unidentified individuals broke into Keishamthong Model High School early this morning, stealing 17 bags of rice intended for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. after the perpetrators gained access by forcing open four locks on the school's gates and rooms.
Staff discovered the theft upon arriving at the school. While 38 bags were originally stored in the facility, 17 were missing. One bag was recovered near the gate, suggesting the thieves dropped it while escaping. The burglars also gathered three computer sets near the exit but abandoned them before fleeing.
A witness reported seeing a diesel auto-rickshaw parked near the school at 3:20 a.m. CCTV footage from the area later captured a similar vehicle crossing the Keishamthong Bridge loaded with goods around 3:35 a.m. Residents traced a trail of spilled rice to the Moirangkhom Oil Pump, where the tracks faded.
The school's internal security cameras were inactive during the night, preventing investigators from reviewing footage inside the campus. School officials have reported the crime to the Imphal Police Station. Authorities have launched an investigation to recover the food supplies and identify those responsible for the break-in.
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