How Two Alert Citizens Captured Madhya Pradesh Rape Suspect After 144-Hour Manhunt

In a dramatic turn of events reminiscent of a crime thriller, Salman alias Nazar, 23, accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district, was apprehended not by police forces but by two vigilant local youths at a tea stall in Bhopal's Gandhi Nagar on Thursday.

The exhaustive 144-hour manhunt for Salman culminated in his capture in Bhopal, followed by a shocking escape attempt that prompted police to open fire.

According to police intelligence, Salman had navigated through forested areas to reach Bhopal, successfully evading checkpoints, and had been concealing himself in the Gandhi Nagar vicinity. When caught, he possessed no mobile device, no identification documents, and was under the influence of alcohol.

Following reports of his detention, members of the Jai Maa Bhavani Hindu organization hurried to the Gandhi Nagar police station, only to discover that Salman had already been transferred to the custody of Gauharganj police who departed immediately.

Tensions escalated in the city after the arrest. By Friday morning, representatives from the Hindu Utsav Samiti and Sanskriti Bachao Manch gathered at Hamidia Hospital, chanting slogans and demanding severe punishment.

Committee president Chandrashekhar Tiwari criticized the administration for its "weak information system" that allowed the suspect to hide in Bhopal for days, declaring that "the accused should be shot dead."

The most remarkable aspect of this case emerged from Naya Basti, where two young men - Abdul Rizwan and Asif - played the decisive role in apprehending the fugitive.

In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Abdul Rizwan described the tense situation: "I recognized him from a photo on social media. He was wandering around Sector-11 inquiring about rental accommodations. Our associates noticed he had no identification, no registration. He matched the appearance of the Raisen suspect exactly. He was intoxicated. We detained him from 10 pm until 11:15 pm when the Gauharganj police arrived."

Rizwan revealed that the suspect repeatedly attempted to flee, but the group kept him engaged until authorities reached the scene.

"He requested a room to rent, but when we asked for identification, he admitted having none. He claimed he slept on footpaths. We detained him. He continuously tried to leave, so we delayed him by offering tea. Subsequently, the Crime Branch team arrived and took him into custody."

According to the youths, Salman told them he had no family support, his mother had passed away, and he lived alone in Karond. The suspect was handed over at the exact intersection where he was caught, concluding a six-day pursuit that involved forest paths, footpaths, and inquiries about rental accommodations.