A seemingly ordinary theft incident that took place in Galyang, Syangja, four decades ago has now reached a legal conclusion. The Syangja District Court had sentenced Lal Bahadur Rana Magar of Kalleri, Galyang Municipality-7, to one month and 15 days in prison and a fine of Rs 4,500 for stealing gold jewelry and a radio.

But he absconded as soon as the court verdict was announced. Years passed, time changed, but the wait for justice did not stop.

47 years after the verdict, Syangja police managed to arrest Rana Magar on Kartik 7. He has been away from the law for decades and is now in the district jail to serve his sentence.

This incident is not limited to this. Giri Prasad Gurung, 68, of Ghurungkha, Waling Municipality-12, who was involved in the same theft incident, was also absconding for a long time. He was arrested by the police on Kartik 20. After the court verdict, he was absconding for years and is now in the district jail to serve his sentence. Legal practitioner Durganarayan Dhakal said, "This theft incident that occurred in 2045 may seem like history to today's generation. But the latest activism of the Syangja police has given a clear message – even if the crime is old, legal responsibility is not old.’

Buddhi Bahadur Shahi of Geudanda, Putalibazaar Municipality-8, who was known as ‘Kanchho’, was involved in the theft incident that took place on Magh 2043. The Syangja District Court had found him guilty in the robbery case and sentenced him. But after the court’s verdict, he went absconding. Shahi, who had been away from the reach of the law for decades, was arrested by the Syangja police after 38 years on Mangsir 11. He has been produced in court and sent to the district jail to serve his sentence and pay a fine.

Similarly, Tham Prasad Pokharel, who was involved in the assault incident that took place on Chaitra 2052 in Biruwa Rural Municipality-4, was also absconding for a long time. The district court had sentenced him to two years in prison and a fine of Rs 10,000. Pokharel, who was absconding after the verdict, was living in Bardaghat Municipality-5 in West Nawalparasi. The 74-year-old Pokharel was arrested by the police after 30 years, on Kartik 19.

‘No matter how much time passes, the door of justice eventually opens,’ said District Police Chief Dadhiram Neupane, ‘The legal end of this incident that happened decades ago reflects the deep meaning of the campaign against the absconding accused in Syangja. This incident has once again proven the fact that justice may be delayed, but it will not be stopped.’ The campaign launched by the police against the absconding accused in Syangja has gradually brought to justice not only those convicted of common crimes, but also those who have been outside the reach of the law for years. SP Neupane said, "The arrest of accused who were sentenced decades ago in cases ranging from manslaughter to drug trafficking, rape and kidnapping is an indication of the seriousness and effectiveness of this campaign."

Bajindra Bahadur Sotimagar of Chapakot Municipality-2, who was absconding in a manslaughter case, was sentenced to two years in prison by the District Court on Asoj 7, 2059. Sotimagar, who was then accused of murdering Haste BK, 60, was absconding after the verdict. Syangja Police arrested him from Pokhara after 23 years on Shrawan 13. He has now been sent to the district jail to serve his sentence.

Similarly, Ramchandra Poudel, 48, of Andhikhola Rural Municipality-4, who was sentenced to 10 months and 18 days in prison and a fine of Rs 5,000 in a drug case, was also absconding for a long time. He went missing after the Kaski District Court pronounced its verdict on Baisakh 23, 2059. Poudel was arrested by the Syangja police after 22 years, on July 18.

The accused who was convicted and sentenced in the rape case has also come under the purview of the law. Meg Bahadur Bhujel, 57, of Pipaldali, Putalibazaar Municipality-14, was absconding after being sentenced to 15 years in prison by the District Court on November 23, 2073 for his involvement in the incident that occurred in 2060 BS. He, who lives in Pokhara Metropolitan City-14, was arrested by the Syangja police after 13 years.

Thakur BK, 38, of Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality-5, who was convicted in the kidnapping and hostage case, has also been taken into custody by the police. The court verdict of March 18, 2070 BS had sentenced him to two years, nine months and five days in prison and a fine of Rs 25,000. The absconding BK was arrested by the police on August 10, 2017 and sent to the district jail on August 11.

These incidents are only representative. Advocate Sangita Nepali says that the campaign to arrest absconding accused conducted by Syangja Police in the last year has sent a clear message that court decisions will be implemented regardless of the nature of the crime. ‘These incidents have reaffirmed the fact that crimes may become old with the passage of time, but legal responsibility never fades. The conclusion of cases that have been stalled for decades is seen as an attempt to re-establish citizens’ faith in justice.’

The continuous action taken against absconding accused in Syangja for the last three years has yielded remarkable results in terms of both number and impact. The police claim that Syangja Police has achieved its biggest achievement so far in terms of arresting accused who have been absconding for years after being sentenced by the court, implementing prison sentences and collecting revenue.

From Baisakh 2082 to Poush 18 alone, 164 absconding accused, including 125 men and 39 women, have been arrested. Revenue of Rs 47.9 million 2,365 has been collected from them. During this period, the accused have served 183 years, 4 months and 10 days in prison. According to the police, this revenue amount collected from absconding accused is the highest ever.

Earlier, 99 absconding accused, including 74 men and 25 women, were caught from 2081 BS Baisakh to Chait. A revenue of Rs 690,433 was collected from them and a prison sentence of 9 years and 23 days was served, according to police data.

Similarly, 75 accused, including 65 men and 10 women, were arrested from 2080 BS Baisakh to Chait. A revenue of Rs 144,281 was collected from them during that period and a prison sentence of 22 years, 10 months and 8 days was served.

According to the data of the District Police Office, Syangja, a total of 338 absconding accused, including 264 men and 74 women, have been arrested in the last three years. A revenue of Rs 48,737,072 was collected from them and a prison sentence of 215 years, 3 months and 11 days was served.

These data indicate that the action against absconding accused has now reached a different level not only in terms of number but also in terms of impact. District Police Chief Neupane said that reaching legal conclusions even for crimes committed decades ago has become a strong basis for the implementation of justice in Syangja.

‘It was not an easy task to bring all these crimes committed decades ago, absconding accused for years, and cases that have been forgotten over time back to the legal system,’ said SP Neupane, ‘but the activism shown by Syangja Police in the last three years has strengthened the belief that justice may be delayed but not impossible. These figures, from accused who reached jail after 47 years to revenue collection of crores, send a clear message – no matter how old the crime, the memory of the law is not erased. This campaign underway in Syangja is not just a statistic of arrests, but a commitment to the continuity of the law and the firmness of justice.’

22 people ‘bought’ prisons

Section 155 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 2074 BS, provides for the remission (buying) of imprisonment for accused who are sentenced to less than one year by paying a sum of money. Under the same law, 22 people in Syangja have bought their prison sentences. According to the data of the Syangja District Court, the accused have paid only 621,300 rupees in revenue to avoid a total of 6 years, 9 months, and 21 days of imprisonment.