A murder case accused, wanted since June 1997, was finally nabbed by a team of police from Kumily, with the assistance of Forest officials and Theni police, in the deep forest of Varushanadu two days ago.

According to Kerala Police, who camped in Tamil Nadu for the special operation, a property dispute within a family led to the murder of a person, identified as Ganesan (18 years old then), in Sengarai near Kumily. The police had registered a case against four persons and arrested three for them.

The fourth accused, whose name was given as Mahadevan, could not be arrested as he had reportedly gone underground after realising that the police were on the lookout for him.

Even as the case remained ‘unsolved’, a policeman from Kumily received a tip-off from his source about six months ago that Mahadevan was hiding somewhere in the deep forest of Varushanadu.

‘Bank employee’

The policeman, M. Mariappan, after getting permission from his superiors, entered the forest area posing as a bank employee. He lived in a habitation and volunteered to assist the villagers with loans from the bank and ensured that his real identity was not known to anyone.

He was discreetly inquiring about the whereabouts of Mahadevan. When he received specific inputs about the location and other identity of the accused, he alerted his superiors.

Two days ago, the police secured Mahadevan and his confession statement was recorded by Kumily police, led by Sub-Inspectors Jeffy George, Anand and C.P. Ratheesh.

According to them, Mahadevan escaped from his native place soon after the crime 28 years ago, and worked as a farm worker in cashew groves in Dharmarajapuram and never went to Kumily, fearing arrest. He also changed his mobile number and lived in locations where there was no connectivity, the police officers said.

Further investigation is on.