Dholpur Police declare dist as dacoit-free after fugitive held

Jaipur: Dholpur police Wednesday declared the district "dacoit-free" following the arrest of Vashnu Bhagat, said to be the last remaining fugitive carrying a cash reward, marking the end of a notorious era in the infamous Chambal ravines. Bhagat, 29, who had a Rs 35,000 bounty on his head, was apprehended from a restaurant near the Maa Jwala Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh Wednesday. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between the district's cyber team and multiple field units.
In 2019, Bhagat and his gang of dacoits was accused of shooting to death trader Jagdish Prajapati in Dholpur's Kalauri area. The accused, wanted in at least 13 criminal cases including robbery and murder, had been evading capture for nearly a year. While on the run, he moved between several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, frequenting areas like Morena, Gwalior, Bhind and Shivpuri, while frequently changing his hideouts.
"All those who were active in the ravines of Chambal in the Dholpur region were either arrested or killed in encounters in the recent past. A resident of Karka Kherli, Bhagat was the last remaining dacoit of the ravines who had cases of dacoity, ransom, kidnapping, etc., lodged against him," said SP Dholpur Sumit Meharda.
The arrest represents a significant milestone in the region's history. For decades, the ravines of Chambal were synonymous with fear that dictated life in the borderlands. With Bhagat's arrest, police say that legacy may finally have met its quiet end.
Over the past three decades, Dholpur witnessed intense anti-dacoity operations. Dy SP Raghvendra said, "Around 15 dacoits were killed in police encounters over the years."
Notable operations included the elimination of infamous dacoits such as Radhacharan, Ramkumar and Munni Gurjar (1993), Gopal Kachhi (1997), Kamal Gurjar, Lotai Meena and Vakila Gurjar (2008), Ram Vishesh alias Goonga (2009), Lokesh alias Tonta and Ramnaresh Meena (2011) and more recently, Rajendra Sahron (2012).
The breakthrough in Bhagat's case came through digital surveillance, with constables Manvendra Singh and Satpal Singh successfully tracking his digital footprint.
A team led by Diholi SHO Paramjeet Patel and cyber cell in-charge head-constable Narendra Singh made the final arrest. Police are currently interrogating Bhagat to uncover more details about his network and movements during his time as a fugitive.