Mangaluru: Police have arrested two long-absconding accused in separate criminal cases — one linked to an assault case pending for nearly 13 years and another wanted in a robbery case for about five years. Both accused were traced in Bengaluru and produced before the respective courts for further legal proceedings, officials said.

Assault case accused held after 13 years

According to police, the first arrest relates to an assault case registered at Punjalkatte Police Station in November 2013. The accused has been identified as Alwyn Rodrigues, 53, a resident of Parenki in Belthangady.

The case had been registered under Sections 324 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint filed by Chitrashekar Madanthyar. The complaint alleged that Rodrigues had assaulted him during a dispute and caused injuries.

After the FIR was filed and the investigation initiated, the accused allegedly failed to appear before the court as required. Despite repeated summons and a pending warrant, he remained untraceable for years.

Police said he had been absconding for nearly 13 years, frequently changing locations to avoid arrest.

Traced and secured from Bengaluru locality

As part of renewed efforts to execute long-pending warrants, police teams reviewed old pending cases and launched a targeted search for absconders. During this drive, officers gathered fresh leads about Rodrigues’ whereabouts.

He was eventually traced to Sampangi Ramnagar area of Bengaluru and taken into custody by the police team. After completing arrest formalities, he was produced before the competent court, which took up further proceedings in the matter.

Officials said execution of long-pending warrants remains a priority, especially in assault and violence-related cases where accused persons evade trial for extended periods.

Robbery case accused arrested after five years

In a separate operation, police also arrested another absconding accused connected to a robbery case registered at Dharmasthala Police Station. The case dates back to April 8, 2017, and relates to a theft and robbery incident reported at Rekhya.

The case was booked under Sections 397, 395, and 34 of the IPC, which deal with robbery with deadly weapons, dacoity, and acts done by several persons with common intention.

The warrant accused has been identified as Nanjunda, a native of Magadi in the Bengaluru region. Police records indicate that he had been evading arrest for about five years despite a standing warrant.

Arrest and judicial custody

Based on updated intelligence inputs, police located the accused at Giddenahalli area and carried out an arrest operation. He was subsequently produced before the court concerned.

After hearing the matter, the court remanded him to judicial custody. Police said further investigation steps and case proceedings will continue as per law.

Drive against absconding accused intensified

Law enforcement officials stated that special drives are being conducted periodically to trace and arrest absconding accused in old pending cases. These drives involve re-checking case files, verifying last-known addresses, analysing call and movement records, and coordinating with other district units.

Senior officers noted that delays in arrest often slow down trials and deny closure to complainants. Executing pending warrants helps restore the legal process and ensures that cases move forward in court.

Police reiterated that individuals attempting to evade court process will eventually be traced and arrested, even if several years have passed since registration of the case.