Shillong, Nov. 2: A spate of robberies in the Meghalaya capital and along the national highway has forced the police to contemplate setting up a unit exclusively to deal with the menace.

The police are in a tizzy primarily because several gangs are suspected to be active within the state capital. Most of these have sophisticated weapons, a senior official said.

Last evening, the police shot dead a robber and injured another while they were fleeing towards Upper Shillong after looting a petrol pump near Anjali Cinema.

The slain robber, named Bhaity, was a resident of the Mawprem locality. His injured accomplice was identified as Vicky Thapa.

Bhaity was carrying a pistol when he was shot dead.

Though the police are tight-lipped about their new strategy, it is understood that additional personnel would be deployed at outposts in some localities in and around Shillong after a training stint.

These police personnel will be trained to monitor the movements of suspects and carry out pre-emptive strikes.

Additional director-general W. Marbaniang claimed the police had identified a couple of gangs at work and initiated steps to get them behind bars. “We are taking action and have enjoyed success over the past few days. Some of the robbers have already been arrested and we now know who are behind these incidents.”

The police officer said those that had been arrested were involved in the incident at Umiam recently. A doctor couple was robbed off their belongings, including cash, on that occasion.

Marbaniang said the police were regularly checking hotels and restaurants that the robber gangs were known to visit.

A police patrol traced one robber to a restaurant at Iew Mawlong last evening. On seeing the police team, he took to his heels, but was overpowered. A .22 pistol was seized from him.

Three members of a gang, all Tangkhul Nagas from Manipur, were arrested at Laitkor earlier in the day.

They were staying in a cave and continuing their activities with the help of “local contacts”, the police said.

Two countrymade revolvers and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition were found in the cave.

The areas the police are focusing on include Upper Shillong, Iew Mawlong, parts of Jhalupara and Rynjah, and Nongmyngsong.

Marbaniang said the police hoped to identify the remaining gangs soon.