Udupi: Man accused of imprisoning and raping minor girl caught after 27 years in hiding

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, July 26: The Padubidri police have managed to arrest an accused who was on the run for 27 years after he imprisoned and raped a minor girl. The accused had evaded court appearance during the trial.

The incident took place on August 6, 1997, when Naseema Banu of Uchila, Padubidri reported to the police that a girl working in her house had gone missing. A case for the missing girl was registered at the Padubidri station under number 69/1997.

During the course of investigation, it emerged that on August 7, the girl got lost on her way home and ended up in Manipal. There, the accused Jamal of Kundapur lured her on his motorcycle and kept her captive in a room in a hostel in Manipal for about 12 days, where he raped her.

Later, Jamal took the girl to the bus stand in Udupi to send her back to her village. However, suspicious staff at the lodge in Udupi informed the city police, who arrested Jamal.

During interrogation, Jamal’s criminal activities came to light. At the Padubidri station, he was charged under Cr. No. 72/1997, Sections 365, 366, 376 of the IPC. He was arrested and produced in court where he was granted bail but later absconded and missed court hearings.

The Udupi District Court issued an arrest warrant against Jamal, who had been in hiding for 27 years.

On the instructions of the Udupi District Superintendent of Police, PSI Prasanna MS of Padubidri police station along with ASI Rajesh P, HC Rajesh Herg and PC Sandesh Jamal tracked down in the jurisdiction of HAL police station in Bengaluru.

The Padubidri police came to know that Jamal was living with his wife and children. On July 25, 2024, he was arrested near his residence in Bengaluru and produced before the Udupi court. The court has now remanded Jamal in judicial custody.