Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown Monday, police arrested prime accused Biban Biswal from Pune in connection with the sensational Anjana Mishra gangrape case.
Biban had been absconding for the last 22 years, Commissioner of Police Sudhansu Sarangi confirmed at a presser held here.
The arrested had escaped the eyes of police and was hiding at Aamby Vally area in Pune. He had changed his name to Jalandhar Swain and was working as a plumber there, Sarangi informed.
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Commissionerate of Police has intimated about the arrest of Biban to CBI which has been investigating the case. “We had launched an operation called ‘Silent Viper’ to nab Biswal. We have succeeded in our plan what the CBI could not do. His arrest is a remarkable achievement for Odisha Police,” Sarangi added.
Notably, Biban along with two other accomplices had allegedly gangraped then 29-year-old Anjana Mishra inside her car on Bhubaneswar-Barang road January 9, 1999. The victim was returning to Bhubaneswar along with her friend on the intervening night.
Two of the accomplices were earlier arrested within a short span of 17 days following the incident. The duo was later convicted by District and Sessions Judge of Khurda and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The incident had triggered much hue and cry in Odisha. A strong political repercussion even tumbled the Congress government of then Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik and he had to resign.
PNN