In a dramatic turn to a decades-old case, the Etawah police in Uttar Pradesh have announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted in a kidnapping and murder case that dates back 44 years. The police action comes after the Allahabad High Court recently issued a warrant against the accused, pushing the long-dormant investigation back into motion.
A Cold Case Heats Up After Court Intervention
The First Information Report (FIR) in this chilling case was originally lodged in 1981 at the Dibiyapur police station in Auraiya district. The accused, identified as Shyamnarayan alias Shyamlal, was charged with the serious crimes of kidnapping, murder, and the destruction of evidence. After allegedly committing the crime, he vanished and has been absconding ever since.
The recent push for his arrest began when the complainant in the case approached the Allahabad High Court, accusing the police of inaction over the many years. The court's subsequent warrant prompted the Etawah police to actively renew their search for the fugitive.
The Search for a Now Elderly Fugitive
If alive today, the accused, Shyamnarayan, would be approximately 75 years old. At the time of the alleged murder in 1981, he was reportedly in his 30s and was a resident of Dharampur village in Auraiya. The case is officially registered as number 120 of 1981 under IPC sections 364 (kidnapping), 377 (unnatural offence), 302 (murder), and 201 (destruction of evidence).
Etawah's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, detailed the renewed efforts to trace Shyamlal. "A team went to his home in Auraiya but he was not found. We will use electronic surveillance to trace him. Informants in the city have been mobilised," Srivastava stated.
Modern Methods to Solve an Old Crime
In a bid to finally close this 44-year-old chapter, the police are employing contemporary tactics. SSP Srivastava confirmed that Shyamlal's photograph will be circulated on social media platforms. Furthermore, assistance has been sought from police stations not only within the district but also in neighbouring districts to widen the net.
The police have assured potential informants that their identity will be kept strictly confidential. This assurance, coupled with the substantial cash reward, is hoped to generate crucial leads that could finally locate Shyamnarayan and bring a measure of justice to a case that has remained unresolved for nearly half a century.
