Sundargarh, Nov 27: A convicted murderer who had been on the run for 17 years was arrested by the Rajgangpur police on Wednesday. Manglu Rout, 42, of Tarkera village, had been evading the law since 2007 after absconding on parole.

Rout was convicted in 2005 for the murder of his relative, Gopal Rout, whom he fatally stabbed over a land dispute. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but was released on parole in 2007. However, he failed to return to the prison, and a manhunt was launched to apprehend him.

The police had been tracking his movements for years, monitoring his contacts and family. After years of careful surveillance, they finally caught him. “We kept a close watch and waited for the right moment to strike,” a police official said.

Rout's crime dates back to 2002, when he killed Gopal Rout in a dispute over land. Authorities are relieved to have finally apprehended the fugitive after such a long pursuit.