Agra: A 70-year-old man wanted in a 38-year-old kidnapping and rape case in West Bengal was arrested from Vrindavan, where he had allegedly been living in the guise of a sadhu for the past 32 years, police officers told TOI on Wednesday. The arrest was made by a West Bengal police team, with assistance from local cops, on Tuesday.
During interrogation, Haldar told police that he lived in a rented accommodation in Vrindavan and survived by begging for around 32 years.
Speaking to TOI, Vrindavan SHO Ashwini Kumar told TOI that a team from Nadia district’s Tehatta police station, comprising SI Bikash Ghosh and his team, raided a rented house in the city and arrested accused Budhdev Haldar. Speaking to TOI, Ghosh said, “This is a very old case. On being asked how he was traced in Mathura, a police officer in Mathura told TOI that mobile records played an important role in tracing the accused.
The Bengal police team coordinated with Vrindavan police before conducting the raid. Further legal proceedings would follow in West Bengal. There was a court warrant against the accused and he was arrested. During the investigation, police examined available digital and electronic records to identify possible leads about his whereabouts and establish his recent movements. These records were cross-checked with information gathered through field surveillance and other methods. The digital trail helped police narrow down the search and eventually identify his presence in Vrindavan.
Police said Haldar was allegedly involved in the kidnapping and rape of a young woman in 1988.
Ghosh told TOI that there was a warrant in the case and, following surveillance and a prolonged investigation, West Bengal police traced him to Vrindavan.