In a dramatic end to a three-decade-long manhunt, a notorious armed robber was finally apprehended by police in Surat after his decision to start using a mobile phone led to his capture within just six months.
The End of a 31-Year Run from the Law
The Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) in Surat arrested Brijbhan Lodhi, aged 50, who had been successfully evading authorities for an astonishing 31 years. Lodhi was wanted in connection with a series of four armed robberies that took place in the Kosamba police station area between 1995 and 1999. His primary strategy for staying off the grid was a deliberate and sustained avoidance of modern technology, specifically mobile phones, for nearly 30 years.
Police officials revealed that Lodhi, a native of Orai in Uttar Pradesh, constantly changed his locations and lived a life in the shadows. However, believing that the police had possibly forgotten about him after all this time, he made a critical mistake approximately six months ago by beginning to use a cellphone.
How the Mobile Phone Led to His Downfall
PCB inspector RS Suvera explained that once Lodhi started using the phone, he was traced within months. The digital trail led police to a laminates manufacturing firm located near Chomu town in Rajasthan. After receiving specific intelligence about his workplace, a police team was dispatched to verify his identity, leading to his immediate arrest.
"Lodhi is a native of Orai in Uttar Pradesh and managed to stay underground for three decades by not using a mobile phone. As soon as he started using one, he was traced within months," Inspector Suvera stated, highlighting the pivotal role of digital surveillance in modern policing.
A Look Back at the Crimes and Life on the Run
During the 1990s, Lodhi had worked in a glass factory in Kosamba, a position that police say helped him plan the detailed robberies. He operated with a gang that included Rajpal, Rajesh, Ram Sagar, Chandrapal, and Manirab. The group targeted high-value locations including a petrol pump, a factory, and several shops in the Kosamba area. The accused were armed with illegal firearms and allegedly fired shots before committing each robbery to intimidate their victims.
Following the last robbery, Lodhi disappeared completely, not returning to his home for seven years to avoid arrest. He later adopted a pattern of visiting his native Orai only sporadically, once every few years, and without informing his family in advance. While his wife and two children continued to live in Orai, Lodhi kept moving from one place to another, always staying one step ahead of the police until his recent technological misstep.
The arrest serves as a stark reminder that in today's digitally connected world, avoiding detection is increasingly difficult, even for the most cautious fugitives. The Surat police's persistence over three decades, combined with modern investigative techniques, ultimately closed this long-standing case.
