CBI nabs final absconder in 2002 Garhwa Fort idol theft, murder case
LUCKNOW, July 6 -- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the last remaining absconding accused in the 2002 Garhwa Fort idol theft and murder case, completing its search for all four fugitives wanted in connection with the crime, officials said on Sunday.
The case relates to the dacoity, murder and theft of a priceless ancient idol from the protected Garhwa Fort, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monument in the then Allahabad district (now Prayagraj).
According to a CBI press note, Ramnarayan alias Hyder was arrested on Saturday from Naseerpur village under Khakheru police station limits in Fatehpur district. His arrest marks a major breakthrough in the 24-year-old investigation.
The case pertains to the intervening night of April 21-22, 2002, when an 11-member gang allegedly led by Vijay Kumar Shukla raided the historic fort, overpowered security personnel and allegedly murdered watchman Vinod Kumar Srivastava by assaulting and gagging him. The gang allegedly broke open a store room and stole a valuable stone idol of Lord Buddha, which broke into two pieces while being removed from the site.
The case was initially registered at Shankargarh police station in the then Allahabad district before being taken over by the CBI on September 9, 2003.
According to the investigation, the idol fragments were transported in a vehicle and allegedly sold by Vijay Kumar Shukla for Rs 2.20 lakh to two buyers. The idol was later shifted to a godown in Mahipalpur, New Delhi, before being allegedly smuggled out of the country.
The CBI filed a chargesheet on December 22, 2005, against 10 accused, including four who had remained absconding: Vijay Kumar Shukla, Ravi Karan, Suraj Bhan and Ramnarayan alias Hyder.
In recent months, the agency intensified efforts to trace the fugitives by deploying dedicated teams, developing local intelligence and conducting sustained surveillance across Uttar Pradesh and other locations.Suraj Bhan and Ravi Karan were arrested on May 22 and June 2, while prime accused Vijay Kumar Shukla was traced in Chitrakoot jail. With Ramnarayan's arrest in Fatehpur, all four absconders have been traced and will face trial, the CBI said...
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