Bhopal, February 8: A 65-year-old man from Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested after evading law enforcement for nearly 45 years. He was implicated in a minor theft that most people would overlook. However, the wheels of justice continued to turn, ultimately leading to his capture.
The story dates back to 1980 when a group of seven young men, including Salim, son of Mujid, allegedly trespassed into fields near Balsamund Kakad village and stole wheat worth just 100 rupees.
At that time, the price of a quintal of good-quality wheat was around 115 rupees, meaning the stolen amount was only a few kilograms. Fearing arrest, Salim and his family fled to the neighboring Dhar district immediately after the crime, where they rebuilt their lives in the agricultural area.
As decades passed, Salim settled into a quiet routine and eventually opened a small shop to support his family. They likely believed that the shadow of that fateful night had faded into the past.
Meanwhile, the case file, with its yellowed pages, gathered dust in police records as Salim transformed from a fugitive youth into a senior shopkeeper.
However, the police took proactive measures and reopened the case file. The Madhya Pradesh administration has launched a statewide campaign to address long-pending cases and apprehend fugitives, regardless of the severity of their crimes.
Shweta Shukla, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) in Mandleshwar, stated, “A special campaign conducted from January 1 to 31 played a significant role. During this time, investigators revisited old warrants and unresolved cases. A former associate of Salim provided crucial information about his whereabouts.”
Acting on this tip-off, officers from Khalataka police station swiftly apprehended the accused on Saturday.