KAPILVASTU, June 22: An Indian citizen who escaped from Kapilvastu prison by digging a tunnel has been arrested after 14 years. On January 16, 2010, eight people, including him, escaped from the prison by digging a tunnel.
The arrestee is identified as Scul Mia Ansari, also known as Mohammad Scul, of Chilhiya, Siddharthanagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Superintendent of Police (SP) Nawa Ratna Paudel said that a special team of Kapilvastu Police arrested him from Shivaraj Municipality-7.
The court had sentenced him to 6 years, 5 months, and 9 days in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 450,000. On January 16, 2010, he and 8 others escaped by digging a 21-foot tunnel from the eastern wall of the prison.
Nagdhunga Tunnel digging halted for 20 days
Among those who escaped from the jail were Mohammed Scul, who was serving a prison sentence for robbery, along with Ramjas Maurya, Prabhu Teli, and Shrawan Kumar Murau, who were imprisoned for murder. Similarly, Santosh Kahar was imprisoned for drug charges, Kedar Sahni for arms and ammunition charges, and Bagedu Muslim and Santakumar Pasi for rape charges.
Kapilvastu police had already arrested 7 fugitive defendants who escaped by digging the tunnel. With the arrest of Mohammed Scul, the police have succeeded in apprehending all 8 fugitive defendants who escaped by digging the tunnel.
126 fugitives apprehended within a year
During the current fiscal year, the police have arrested a total of 126 fugitives, from whom sentences totaling 147 years and 10 months and fines amounting to Rs 1.614 million are to be collected. The police are continuing a special campaign to arrest absconding accused in various cases and those sentenced by the court.
SP Paudel said that those who absconded on various charges and were particularly involved in major crimes were kept under surveillance. He stated that a special police team has been deployed to arrest the absconding defendants.
