Rajasthan: Dacoit absconding for 26 years held in Jhabua
Synopsis
A dacoit who allegedly robbed a petrol pump on NH-8 in April 2000 and then vanished for 26 years has finally been caught — not in Rajasthan, but in the villages of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, where undercover officers camped in disguise before closing in. The arrest is a direct outcome of Rajasthan Police's month-long special campaign targeting long-pending warrants.
Key Takeaways
Dalla alias Ramesh/Dalla Baria , aged 50 , was arrested on 6 October 2026 after absconding for 26 years .
He was the prime accused in a dacoity at Vaishno Devi Petrol Pump, NH-8 on 3 April 2000 , in which ₹1,64,513 was allegedly stolen.
The arrest was made in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh , where he had reportedly been living under a concealed identity.
Officers camped in disguise in villages including Negadiya , Mahendikheda , and Sulla Mehuda before conducting the raid.
The operation was part of Rajasthan Police Headquarters ' special campaign running from 15 September to 15 October 2026 .
All other co-accused in the case had been arrested and charge-sheeted years earlier; Dalla was the sole remaining fugitive.
Rajasthan Police, operating out of Ajmer district, have arrested Dalla alias Ramesh/Dalla Baria, a proclaimed offender and alleged dacoit who had evaded law enforcement for 26 years in connection with a dacoity case registered in 2000. The arrest was made in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, on 6 October 2026, ending one of the longer fugitive runs in the region's recent criminal history.
The Original Crime
According to police, the accused and his accomplices allegedly carried out a dacoity at the Vaishno Devi Petrol Pump on NH-8, within the Mangliyawas police station area, on 3 April 2000. The gang reportedly fled with ₹1,64,513 in cash.
Several co-accused — identified as Ramsan alias Kalla, Bapu alias Bhaniya, Pau alias Babu, Ojinu alias Jinu, Dhuliya, and Nahariya — were arrested in the years that followed and charge sheets were filed in court. Dalla, however, remained at large, evading a standing arrest warrant issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Nasirabad.
The Special Campaign Behind the Arrest
The operation was part of a targeted campaign launched by Rajasthan Police Headquarters to apprehend wanted criminals, warrant-holders, and proclaimed offenders. The campaign runs from 15 September to 15 October 2026.
Following directions from Ajmer Superintendent of Police Harsh Vardhan Agrawala, a dedicated team was assembled under Mangliyawas Station House Officer Harish Chaudhary. The operation was conducted under Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Lalchand Kayal and supervised by Circle Officers Satyendra Negi (Rural) and Neeraj Gupta (Pisangan).
How the Fugitive Was Traced
Intelligence inputs indicated the accused had been living in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. Officers reportedly camped in disguise across villages including Negadiya, Mahendikheda, and Sulla Mehuda — all within the Kalyanpur police station area — gathering information on his movements.
After piecing together his routine, the team launched a targeted raid. According to police, Dalla initially attempted to mislead officers about his identity, but technical verification and sustained questioning confirmed him as Dalla alias Ramesh/Dalla Baria, son of Kodia alias Sumla Baria, aged 50, a resident of Negadiya. Assistance from Kalyanpur police and local villagers proved crucial to his identification.
Significance of the Arrest
The operation brings to a close a 26-year fugitive period for the prime accused in the 2000 Mangliyawas dacoity case. Notably, this arrest demonstrates cross-state police coordination — the suspect had crossed into a different state jurisdiction to evade capture. It also underscores the broader reach of Rajasthan Police's ongoing crackdown on long-pending warrants during the month-long special campaign.
With Dalla now in custody, the case is expected to proceed through the courts, potentially concluding a legal matter that has been pending for over two decades.
Point of View
But the headline achievement also quietly highlights the structural weakness: without sustained cross-state coordination mechanisms, fugitives can simply relocate and wait out a jurisdiction. The real test is whether this campaign's gains — and the intelligence methods used — are institutionalised beyond October 15.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dalla alias Ramesh/Dalla Baria and why was he wanted?
Dalla alias Ramesh/Dalla Baria is a 50-year-old man from Negadiya in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, who was a proclaimed offender wanted by Rajasthan Police. He was the prime accused in an alleged dacoity at the Vaishno Devi Petrol Pump on NH-8 in Ajmer district on 3 April 2000, in which ₹1,64,513 was reportedly stolen.
How did Rajasthan Police track down the accused after 26 years?
A special team was formed under Mangliyawas SHO Harish Chaudhary, acting on directions from Ajmer SP Harsh Vardhan Agrawala. Officers reportedly camped in disguise in villages of Jhabua district, gathered intelligence on the accused's movements, and then conducted a targeted raid with assistance from local Kalyanpur police.
What was the outcome of the 2000 dacoity case before this arrest?
Several co-accused — including Ramsan alias Kalla, Bapu alias Bhaniya, and others — were arrested and charge sheets were filed in court in the years following the 2000 incident. Dalla was the sole accused who had remained absconding, with a standing warrant issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Nasirabad.
What is Rajasthan Police's special campaign about?
Rajasthan Police Headquarters launched a month-long special campaign from 15 September to 15 October 2026 to apprehend wanted criminals, individuals facing arrest warrants, and proclaimed offenders. The arrest of Dalla is one of the operations conducted under this campaign.
What happens next in the case?
With Dalla now in police custody on the basis of the outstanding judicial warrant, the case is expected to proceed through the courts. Since charge sheets were already filed against co-accused years ago, legal proceedings against Dalla are likely to advance swiftly.
