Nagpur: A murder convict, absconding for 16 years after failing to return to prison following the end of the parole period, was arrested by Nagpur Rural Police on Thursday. The Maharashtra police recently launched a statewide drive to trace wanted accused. The latest arrest and similar operations have helped Nagpur Rural Police secure fourth rank in the state in tracing wanted accused.
Vivek Sathe (50), a resident of Ballarpur, was arrested by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) from the Butibori-Hingna area on Thursday. Sathe was released in 2010 but failed to return after his parole period ended, according to police. Maharashtra Police’s month-long campaign, running from Oct 1 to Oct 31, aims to trace wanted accused. Nagpur Rural Police have traced 63 accused so far. Nandurbar leads with 96 accused traced against 679 listed, followed by Yavatmal with 77 against 572 and Parbhani with 132 against 1,001. Sindhudurg ranks fifth, with eight accused traced against 75 listed. To intensify the drive, Nagpur Rural Police have formed 25 search teams at police stations and the LCB level. A total of 23 police officers and 55 constables are working to trace the remaining wanted accused.
Sathe had been sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case registered at Mauda police station. He had set his wife on fire. Acting on information gathered during the special operation, the LCB team tracked him down and handed him over to Mauda police station. Police inspector Ankush Mane, head of the LCB, laid a trap to arrest Sathe.