In a significant breakthrough, the Lucknow Police have finally apprehended a man convicted under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, ending his nearly three-year flight from justice. The accused, identified as Rahul Kumar, was arrested from his residence in the Nandnagar Natkheda area on Thursday afternoon.
The Long-Awaited Arrest
Acting on a specific tip-off received on Wednesday, a police team from Krishnanagar police station swung into action. The information suggested that the absconding convict had secretly returned to his family home. A team led by Station In-Charge Pradyumn Kumar Singh was formed to track him down. Their efforts culminated successfully the next day, with the arrest being made around 12:30 pm on Thursday.
A Convict's Disappearance and Disguise
Rahul Kumar's journey as a fugitive began on February 3, 2023. He managed to give police the slip during a court appearance and immediately went underground. To evade capture, he fled to the national capital, Delhi. There, in a bid to change his identity, he altered his physical appearance by growing a beard and a moustache. He took up employment as a security guard, a move calculated to help him blend in and avoid drawing any attention from law enforcement agencies.
The Heinous Crime and Conviction
The case that led to his conviction dates back to 2015. Rahul Kumar was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Following the crime, a formal case was registered against him under the provisions of the Pocso Act. His subsequent conviction made his escape from custody in 2023 a serious lapse, prompting a persistent search operation by the police.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Krishnanagar, Rajneesh Verma, confirmed the details of the case and the arrest. The police's relentless pursuit, despite the accused's attempts to reinvent his life in another city, underscores their commitment to ensuring that those convicted of crimes against children face the full force of the law.
The arrest sends a strong message about the long arm of the law and serves as a reminder that altering one's appearance and location may delay, but cannot ultimately prevent, justice from being served, especially in cases involving the safety of minors.
