Varanasi: After nearly 12 years on the run, a criminal carrying a Rs 50,000 reward and allegedly linked to Naxal activities was arrested by the Varanasi Field Unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force from Assam on Thursday.
In 2012, members of the organisation allegedly suspected village head Musafir Chauhan of being a police informer.
Police said Verma came in contact with Sitaram alias Dhanu, a resident of Mudiyari under Maniyar police station in Ballia, who was linked to the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation, and allegedly became involved in Naxal-related activities. Verma is originally a resident of Sahraspali under Kotwali police station in Ballia, according to the police. Rajkumar Verma alias Pradeep Verma was arrested from Kamrup in Guwahati, where he had allegedly been hiding. When they failed to find him at home, they allegedly killed his wife, Phoolmati, to spread terror. Verma was wanted in a case registered at Sahatwar police station in Ballia district under relevant sections of the IPC, Criminal Law Amendment Act and Arms Act. He was currently living near Nala Pada, Kali Mandir Road, in Guwahati.
Legal Proceedings Against Verma for Alleged Violent Crimes
In 2008, Verma and several family members were involved in a violent incident in their village, during which they allegedly opened fire on Jayant Thakur, resulting from personal animosity. Thakur survived the attack. That same year, Verma faced accusations related to the murder of another local resident, Sohan Singh.
Currently, legal actions are in progress to secure a transit remand from a Kamrup court, which would facilitate Verma’s transfer to Uttar Pradesh for further proceedings.
In 2007, he and others allegedly assaulted the family of Madhav Thakur of his village over a shop-related dispute. During questioning, police found that Verma allegedly had a long criminal history. A case was registered at Ballia Kotwali police station.