The Panchkula police have arrested Tepong Rabha, also known as Rakesh Rabha, a resident of Assam’s Kokrajhar district, who was wanted for the murder of his elder brother in Assam and the killing of a watchman in Panchkula. The accused was apprehended in Bengaluru after evading authorities across six states.
Murder of Watchman in Panchkula
On the morning of May 28, the Sector-10 police received a report of a blood-stained body on the roof of an under-construction house in Sector 11. The deceased was identified as Dan Bahadur, a Nepal resident employed as the watchman at the construction site. Investigation revealed that Rabha allegedly bludgeoned Bahadur to death with an iron rod before fleeing.
Link to Assam Murder
During the probe, police discovered that Rabha was already wanted in Assam for allegedly murdering his elder brother nearly three months earlier. After the Assam murder, the accused traveled through Srinagar, Haryana, Delhi, Kerala, and finally Karnataka to avoid arrest.
Method of Evasion
Police officials stated that Rabha changed his identity and hideouts frequently. He stole a mobile phone every four to five days, inserted a new SIM card, and later sold the handset to avoid being tracked. He worked as a waiter at hotels and roadside eateries under fake names and addresses, constantly moving to different locations.
Arrest in Bengaluru
Following sustained technical surveillance, a police team reached Bengaluru on June 30. After searching multiple locations, the accused was arrested from a hotel. He was brought to Panchkula on transit remand obtained from a local court.
Police Custody and Recovery
The accused was produced before a Panchkula court, which remanded him to two days of police custody. During the remand, the police plan to recover the victim’s mobile phone from Delhi and the iron rod allegedly used in the murder.
