Murder convict evading arrest held after 31 years

A man convicted of murder, evading arrest for past 31 years was nabbed by police in Purana Ganj area here, after a court order on the basis of an affidavit filed by his relative that he is alive.
Sardar Khan, arrested yesterday from his house, is in his 70's now. He was one of the four accused in the murder of Bhoora Singh in 1979, said SP Sadhna Goswami.
The four were convicted by a lower court in the same year but granted bail after they appealed in Allahabad High Court, said Goswami, adding, Khan was evading arrest ever since.

Khan was not traceable all these years, as he was living in disguise at his home in Purana Ganj, skipping the hearing in the case, she said. Three of the accused died in between, she said.
According to Goswami, the high court held all the four accused guilty of murder in its final judgment four days ago and awarded life imprisonment to them.
Just after the court's judgment, one of Khan's relatives apprised the Allahabad High court by filing an affidavit that he was alive. The court immediately issued an arrest warrant against Khan and he was arrested, Goswami said.

According to sources, Khan was helped by locals to evade arrest after he apologised and offered help.