NEW DELHI: More than four decades after a 1984 murder, the Crime Branch has arrested a 65-year-old man who had been absconding for over 42 years.The accused was identified as Natthu, a resident of Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh. Special CP (Crime) HGS Dhaliwal said that on May 23, 1984, a body bearing multiple knife injuries was recovered from District Park in Vikaspuri, West Delhi.The deceased was later identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. During the investigation, the involvement of Bhabhuti Prashad, also from Sitapur, came to light. He was arrested and the knife allegedly used in the murder was recovered. However, his co-accused, Natthu, managed to evade arrest and remained absconding for more than four decades.DCP (Crime) Aditya Gautam formed a team led by Inspector Sunil Kumar Kalkhande to trace Natthu. The team examined details from old case files and developed leads through field verification. It spent several months in Sitapur and Hardoi to establish the accused’s identity, movements and whereabouts.On August 18, the team traced Natthu near his native village and apprehended him while he was travelling towards Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.Police said Natthu and Prashad were friends, while Ashok and Prashad were residents of the same village. Ashok had allegedly made advances towards Prashad’s wife, leading to a dispute.On the night of the incident, after consuming liquor together in a park, Natthu and Prashad allegedly attacked and killed Ashok.During his years on the run, Natthu worked in wholesale vegetable markets at different locations in Uttar Pradesh and maintained a low profile. Police said he never married and lived alone.
