After 28 years on the run, rape accused caught by cops

Hisar: Fatehabad police arrested Dev Singh alias Deva, a resident of Samana town in Patiala district of Punjab in a 28-year-old case of kidnapping and rape of a girl. Deva’s three companions were sentenced 23 years ago, but he was on the run for the past 27 years. One of the accused in the case is still at large.

Fatehabad superintendent of police (SP) Rajesh Kumar said in May 1992, Ratia police station registered a case against five persons including Deva for kidnapping and raping a girl.

Three accused arrested in the case were sentenced by the court in January 1997, while two accused, including Deva, escaped. They were declared proclaimed offenders by the court in June 1993, the SP said.

“During patrolling, Ratia Sadar police station team arrested Deva on suspicion near the bus stand of Kulan village. During interrogation, it was revealed that he was declared PO 27 years ago in the kidnapping and rape case. He said he kept changing places to avoid arrest,” Kumar said.