Fugitive Accused of Murder and Rape Caught After 17 Years on the Run from Moving Train in Maharashtra
New Delhi, May 10 — A man accused of both murder and rape, who had been on the run for 17 years, was apprehended by Delhi Police from a moving train in Maharashtra, officials announced on Saturday.The fugitive, identified as 43-year-old Md Alam, had evaded arrest since 2008 when he, along with five accomplices, allegedly stabbed a man to death in Bihar. A murder case was registered against him on October 30, 2008, but Alam managed to disappear, eluding authorities for nearly two decades.
In a shocking twist, Alam was also accused of raping his daughter in 2021, with a case registered against him in Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar. Granted interim bail on February 28, 2023, he later absconded again and was declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court in December 2023.
Arrest Operation Spanned 1,100 km and 20 Hours
After receiving a tip-off on May 6, a Delhi Police team launched an extensive operation to track Alam. Officers boarded the Shramik Express at Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh and initiated a rigorous search that lasted three to four hours."After scanning coach after coach, the accused was finally located and arrested at Jalgaon Junction," a senior police official stated. "The operation, covering over 1,100 km in 20 hours, was carried out with meticulous planning and determination."
Constant Disguises and Changing Identities
Police revealed that Alam frequently changed his name, appearance, and location to avoid detection. He moved between Bihar, Delhi, and Maharashtra and used multiple addresses and mobile numbers to stay off the radar.At the time of his arrest, Alam was en route to Valsad in Gujarat. He was presented before a local court in Maharashtra and subsequently brought to Delhi. The Bihar Police have been notified of the arrest, and further investigation is ongoing.
This dramatic capture brings an end to one of the longest manhunts in recent memory, highlighting the coordination and persistence of law enforcement in tracking down long-absconding criminals.
