PATNA
: The special task force (STF)
arrested
a notorious
gangster Pappu Singh
, who was carrying a reward of Rs.50,000 on his head, from his hideout at Deoghar in Jharkhand on Saturday.
Pappu, a resident of Dogachhi village under Sanhaula police station area in
Bhagalpur district
, was evading arrest in at least 10 cases related to kidnapping, murder, loot and extortion. On April 17 last year, he had kidnapped a teenage girl at gun point and forcibly married at a temple.
The incident had snowballed into a major political controversy with the opposition demanding immediate arrest of the kidnapper. Pappu had escaped with the girl to Ranchi and then to Delhi. She was raped and let off after 22 days. A case was lodged by the survivor’s relative with the Sanhaula police station in this connection.
Bhagalpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharti said that Pappu Singh was staying in a rented house with his family at Junpokhar under Deoghar town police station ever since a police team conducted a raid at his native village to arrest him in April last year. However, no illegal weapon was seized from his possession.
The SSP also added that a special police team has been sent to Deoghar to bring Pappu to Bhagalpur where he would be produced in the court after interrogation. “His arrest is considered to be a big catch for the district police,” he said. Raids are on to nab other members of his gang.
Police sources said that a close relative of Pappu has also been detained for interrogation. The suspect has been accused of harbouring the fugitive. Sources said that then IG, Bhagalpur zone, S M Khopre (now IG, operations) was keeping a close tab on the activities of Pappu.
However, sudden transfer of Khopre from Bhagalpur delayed Pappu’s arrest. He had sent a team of police officials from Patna to arrest Pappu following concrete information about his hideouts at Deoghar.
Another gangster Rana Mian was on the radar of the district police. Mian’s name has figured in the killing of two persons in Bhagalpur recently.
Explore the yearly horoscope 2025 for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes, messages and quotes.