SRINAGAR: Mohammad Shafi from Matlote area of Reasi was arrested 35 years after he allegedly escaped from custody, days after he was arrested for selling the sheep of a resident who had given them for grazing. That was in 1986 when the cops from Police Station Mahore arrested him.

Mohammad Shafi arrested after 35 years by police in Reasi after he was accused of selling sheep of a resident and later escaping from custody

A detailed statement issued by Reasi Police about the old man said that in 1986, Police Station Mahore had received a written complaint on November 6, from a person named Shivsaran in which he had claimed that his sheep entrusted to Mohammad Shafi for grazing were sold by him and others, thus causing a criminal breach of trust.

The police lodged case FIR number 128/1986 dated 06/11/1986 U/S 406, 34 RPC of Police Station Mahore. The accused Shafi went underground and was evading arrest after the commission of the alleged offence. However, he was arrested on January 1, 1987, but managed to escape from police custody.

So the police lodged another FIR no. 6/1987 U/S 224 RPC.

Shafi, as per police, managed to evade arrest by changing his locations in grazing pastures in Dhokas in “militancy infested” areas of Kashmir.

In the ensuing years, the investigating officer of the case proved offence against the accused and submitted the charge sheet before the court of law. The Mahore court issued two warrants against the accused on July 17, 1987, and November 29, 1987.

Now after 35 years, a team of Police Station Arnas developed a specific input, which led to the arrest of Mohammad Shafi from the Dhokas (temporary nomadic hutments) in Banihal.

However, the court now released Shafi on interim bail for four days on the production of a personal surety bond of Rs 50,000. The photograph released by the police suggests that Shafi has grown too old.

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