In a significant breakthrough, the Bargaon police in Odisha's Sundargarh district have arrested an undertrial prisoner who had been successfully evading the law for an astonishing 20 years. The arrest on Monday brings a long-standing case back into the judicial spotlight.
The Long Arm of the Law Finally Catches Up
The individual in question is Paban Xess, a 50-year-old resident of Raichapal village under the Bargaon police limits. His legal troubles began back in 2005 when he was arrested by the police in connection with a theft case reported from an industrial unit located in Rajgangpur. While he was initially released on bail, Xess chose a path of flight over facing the court proceedings.
Soon after securing his temporary freedom, he absconded and consistently failed to appear for his court hearings. His repeated non-appearance led the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Rajgangpur to take stern action. The court issued a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against him, and the police have been actively searching for him ever since that order was passed.
Two Decades of Hiding Ends in Village Raid
The breakthrough in this two-decade-old manhunt came on Monday, when the Bargaon police station received a crucial tip-off. Informants indicated that Xess had finally returned to his native village, Raichapal. Acting swiftly on this intelligence, a police team was dispatched to the location.
The team successfully located and arrested Xess from his village. He was promptly produced before the concerned court, which, upholding the earlier NBW, remanded him to judicial custody, sending him back to jail where his trial is expected to resume.
A Life on the Run in Goa
Revealing details of the fugitive's life during his extended period in hiding, Mahendra Sahu, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Bargaon police station, provided key insights. According to IIC Sahu, Paban Xess had been living in the coastal state of Goa throughout the years he was on the run from the law in Odisha.
His return to his home village, likely under the assumption that the long passage of time had dimmed the authorities' pursuit, proved to be a fatal miscalculation. The persistent efforts of the Sundargarh police ensured that the active warrant against him never lost its potency.
This arrest underscores a critical message from the law enforcement agencies: that outstanding warrants do not expire with time, and individuals evading the judicial process can be apprehended no matter how many years have passed. The case also highlights the continued reliance on local intelligence networks in tracking down long-term absconders.
