New Delhi, Sep 26: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested the main accused in a 2020 murder case registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station, who had been absconding for nearly six years and frequently changed his places of stay to evade arrest, officials said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Md. Sheikh Shabbir, 35, was arrested from Kanjhawala on September 25 under Operation Kavach, launched by the Delhi Police to identify and apprehend hardcore and long-absconding criminals involved in heinous offences.

According to the Crime Branch, the team of Inspector Pankaj Thakran of NR-1 was actively working to trace absconding accused involved in murder and dacoity cases. During the operation, Constable Ankush developed specific information regarding Shabbir’s whereabouts and learnt that he was hiding in Kanjhawala Gaon.

The information was subsequently corroborated through field verification and technical surveillance. A raiding team comprising SI Bhagyashri, ASI Anil, ASI Sumit, ASI Ajay and Constable Ankush, led by Inspector Pankaj Thakran, was constituted under the supervision of ACP Ashok Sharma.

On September 25, the team conducted a coordinated raid in the Kanjhawala area and successfully apprehended Shabbir, who had been evading arrest for approximately six years.

The accused was wanted in connection with the murder of Siraj Ali, 35, who was working at his meat shop at Jhuggi No. G-636 in Jahangir Puri on April 29, 2020.

According to the police, an argument broke out between Siraj Ali and Shah Alam, son of Sheikh Jahoor, over the price of meat. The dispute escalated into a physical assault. Shah Alam, along with his associates Md. Sheikh Shabbir, Siraj, Salim, Jahoor and Shakil, allegedly assaulted Siraj Ali with iron rods and wooden sticks.

The victim sustained serious injuries and subsequently succumbed to them.

Following the incident, FIR No. 231/2020 dated April 29, 2020, was registered at Jahangir Puri Police Station under Sections 302, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

While the other accused persons were arrested during the investigation, Shabbir managed to evade arrest and remained absconding. The police said he frequently changed his places of residence to avoid detection.

Shabbir, a resident of Jahangir Puri, studied up to Class 12 and was working as a scrap dealer in the Kanjhawala area. Police said he had reportedly fallen into bad company during his early teenage years and was also addicted to alcohol.

He was previously involved in two cases registered at Mangol Puri and K.N. Katju Marg police stations under various sections of the IPC.

Patna, Sep 26: A commotion broke out at a coaching institute in Bihar Patna district after a teacher was accused of inappropriate conduct with a female student, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred in the Dhanrua police station area of Masaurhi, near Pabhedi Mor.

According to local residents, the incident happened on Friday. The teacher-cum-operator of the coaching centre, identified as Anil Kumar, allegedly asked the student to send her photographs on a mobile phone and was subsequently accused of behaving inappropriately with her.

Following the allegations, relatives and acquaintances of the student reportedly reached the coaching institute and confronted the teacher. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a disturbance on the premises. Kumar was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation, with reports claiming he was beaten with slippers.

A video showing the assault has been circulating on social media. However, police have not independently verified the footage and have neither confirmed its authenticity nor the context in which it was recorded.

Officials at the Dhanrua Police Station said that no written complaint has been received from either side in connection with the incident so far. They added that any further action would depend on the filing of a formal complaint, following which the allegations and circumstances surrounding the episode would be investigated on the basis of available evidence.

Police stressed that the allegations against the teacher remain unverified at this stage and that no formal investigation has been initiated in the absence of a complaint. They said police will take action only after a written complaint is lodged.

The incident comes amid growing concern over crimes against women and girls in Bihar, with several such cases reported from different districts in recent days, drawing public scrutiny of law enforcement’s response.

Patna, Sep 26: Two youths have been arrested in Bihar’s Darbhanga district after a minor girl alleged that she was sexually assaulted after being offered a motorcycle ride home from an examination centre, police said on Saturday.

The incident reportedly falls under the jurisdiction of Biraul police station of the district.

According to police, the girl had gone to school to appear for an examination on September 23 and was returning home when a youth from her village offered to drop her off on his motorcycle.

As she knew the youth, she agreed to accompany him. Police said the youth allegedly took her to another village instead of her home, where another young man was present.

The two then sexually assaulted her, police said.

After the incident, the girl informed her family, who subsequently took her to Biraul police station and lodged a complaint against the two youths.

Police began investigating the case on the basis of the girl’s statement and complaint. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and collecting other relevant evidence.

Acting on the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy, SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari conducted a late-night raid, following which both accused were arrested.

Police also seized the motorcycle allegedly used in the incident.

Investigators are examining the sequence of events, including how the girl came to travel on the motorcycle, her reported stay at the maternal grandparents’ house of one of the accused, and her subsequent movement towards Darbhanga railway station.

Police are also examining a possible relationship angle based on the statement of one of the arrested youths. However, the circumstances and allegations remain subject to investigation.

The police are questioning the accused and examining the available evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine the roles of all those involved.

Further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, police said.

The identity of the minor has not been disclosed in accordance with legal protections for child victims of sexual offences.