84-Year-Old Man Arrested for Wife's Murder After 40 Years on the Run
Delhi Police's Long Pursuit Ends
Delhi Crime News: The saying that the law's reach is long has been proven true once again by the Delhi Police. The Crime Branch has apprehended an elderly man who brutally murdered his wife 40 years ago. The 84-year-old suspect, Chandra Shekhar Prasad, had evaded law enforcement since 1986, but advancements in digital surveillance and traditional human intelligence finally led to his capture.
The incident dates back to October 19, 1986. Chandra Shekhar, originally from Nalanda, Bihar, was living with his wife in the Shakarpur area of Delhi, working as a compositor for a newspaper. According to police reports, he suspected his wife of infidelity, which ignited a horrific plot.
On the day of the crime, he, along with accomplices, held their housekeeper at gunpoint before brutally attacking his wife with bricks, resulting in her death. Following the crime, he fled Delhi.
Four Decades Without a Digital Trace
For investigators, this case was akin to navigating a maze. In 1986, there were no mobile phones, no databases like Aadhaar, and no network of CCTV cameras. The police had only blurry photographs of the suspect to work with. Over the years, he changed his identity while living in various parts of Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, and Delhi, sometimes hiding in factories or blending into crowds at religious events.
How the 84-Year-Old Killer Was Caught
DCP (Crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav stated that despite technical challenges, the police did not give up. They began tracing the suspect's children and contacts in his ancestral village of Nalanda, monitoring suspicious phone numbers.
During field verification, it was discovered that he was still alive and occasionally attended family or village events discreetly. This lead directed the police to the Alipur area of northwest Delhi. On Wednesday, acting on precise information, they raided a factory storeroom in Nangli Puna where he was hiding. The elderly man was astonished to see the police.
Justice Prevails
This arrest sends a strong message to criminals who believe that time will erase their crimes. Justice has finally been served for the victim, even after 40 years. The police are now completing the legal process to ensure that this elderly criminal faces the consequences of his actions.