Wanted drug trafficker held after 6 years on the run in Rajasthan

Jodhpur, Jun 22 (PTI) Notorious drug trafficker Chimaram Jat, wanted in multiple serious offences and carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh, has been arrested by the police after evading capture for over six years, a senior official said on Sunday.
    Inspector General of Police (Jodhpur Range) Vikas Kumar said the arrest was made by the Cycloner team under 'Operation Jhankaar'.
    A resident of Lilsar village in Barmer district, Chimaram was considered the kingpin of narcotics smuggling in western Rajasthan and the mastermind behind one of the largest drug supply networks in the region.
    He was known among criminal circles for misleading police patrols and carried a reward of Rs 50,000 each in the Jodhpur and Udaipur police ranges.
    Chimaram had managed to escape during at least six police raids in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. His modus operandi involved travelling with trucks driven by accomplices under the guise of a transporter, and frequently changing locations to avoid detection.
    In 2019, he went completely underground even as many of his associates were arrested, killed or had left the smuggling trade. However, he allegedly continued expanding his drug trafficking operations.
    Chimaram was wanted in at least 15 serious criminal cases including drug trafficking, attempt to murder, firing on police teams, abduction, and violations under the Arms Act, the officer said.
    He was notorious for opening fire on police and rivals, including incidents in Sumerpur (Pali) and Sheo (Barmer) between 2015 and 2019, the IG said.
    The breakthrough came when the Cycloner team began monitoring a drug supplier in the Neemuch-Mandsaur belt. By intercepting communications and posing as clients, police traced Chimaram to a truck en route to the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border and arrested him from a roadside hotel.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)