SAMBALPUR/JHARSUGUDA: On Friday, police in Jharsuguda apprehended a murder suspect who had been on the run for nearly three decades. Nilamani Mahananda, 51, was arrested in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, where he had been hiding since escaping from police custody in 1998.
According to law enforcement, Mahananda fled from the Rengali police station shortly after his arrest, even while still in handcuffs, and had remained untraceable until now.
Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police GR Raghavendra reported that the suspect had lived under a false identity as Raju Gonda, successfully integrating into the Raigarh community. To facilitate his new life, he acquired identification documents, including an Aadhaar card and PAN card, under this alias.
Officials noted that the arrest was made possible due to persistent investigative efforts, careful tracking of leads, and continuous follow-ups by the Jharsuguda police. After almost 30 years in hiding, Mahananda was finally located and taken into custody, and he was presented in court later that day.
