On the run for 16 years, cow smuggler held

Alwar police have arrested an alleged cow smuggler absconding for the past 16 years.

Shahid Khan (40), who had a warrant against his name, was arrested in Bharatpur district on Saturday, Vinod Sankhla, station house officer (SHO), Malakheda police station in Alwar, told HT on Sunday.

Khan was earlier caught by the Malakheda police in 2001 allegedly for cow smuggling. A case was registered against him under the Rajasthan Bovine Animal Act, 1995. However, he failed to turn up for the court hearing. Later, when cops visited his house at Gangora village under Pahari police station in Bharatpur district, they found that Khan had abandoned his house. Thereafter, an arrest warrant was issued against him, the police said.

Acting on the state police’s recent drive to nab fugitives in old cases, Malakheda police had asked Pahari police to keep a watch on Khan’s house. On Saturday, the Malakheda police got information from their counterparts in Pahari that Khan was present at his house, following which he was arrested. Sankhla said that Khan had been living at a different place with a changed name.

On Sunday, Khan was presented in a local court, which sent him to 15-day judicial custody.

A number of fugitives have been caught recently as a result of the statewide drive of Rajasthan police. Last month, Ajmer police had nabbed a thief from Kerala after 23 years.