Puttur: Uppinangady Police have arrested a man who had been absconding and evading trial for nearly 16 years in connection with a burglary case registered in 2005.
The accused has been identified as Mada Swamy, a resident of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. He was produced before the jurisdictional court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Accused evaded trial for years
According to police, Mada Swamy was an accused in Crime No. 09/2005 registered at the Uppinangady Police Station under Sections 457 and 380 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case pertains to a burglary offence registered in 2005. After the filing of the case, the accused allegedly failed to appear before the court for trial and remained absconding for nearly 16 years.
Police said repeated efforts to trace him had proved unsuccessful, allowing him to evade legal proceedings for more than a decade and a half.
Arrest based on credible information
Acting on credible information regarding his whereabouts, Uppinangady Police personnel HC 826 and HC 331 launched an operation to trace the accused.
The police team located Mada Swamy at Krishnanagar and apprehended him. Following his arrest, he was brought to Puttur and produced before the jurisdictional court.
The court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody.
Police continue efforts to trace absconders
Police officials said the arrest highlights their continued efforts to trace long-pending absconding accused and ensure that those evading the law are brought before the courts.
The successful apprehension of the accused after nearly 16 years is expected to facilitate the continuation of judicial proceedings in the burglary case that had remained pending due to his absence.
Officials added that efforts are being intensified to track down other absconding accused in old and pending criminal cases across the district.