Jajpur: A man accused in a murder case in Odisha’s Jajpur district has finally been arrested after remaining absconding for nearly 32 years by allegedly hiding in a secret underground chamber built beneath his house.

The accused, identified as Rabindra Mallik of Nuahat village under Kuakhia police limits, was wanted in connection with the murder of his relative, Paramananda Mallik, on October 21, 1994. Rabindra had allegedly hacked Paramananda to death with an axe before fleeing the area. Later, a court declared him an absconding accused.

According to police, Rabindra managed to evade arrest for over three decades by frequently changing his identity and staying in different states as a labourer. He allegedly worked as a labourer in Hyderabad, Kerala and several other places while using forged identity documents, including Aadhaar and voter ID cards prepared under a different name.

Despite remaining on the run, he reportedly maintained secret contact with his family members over the years. Police recently received confidential information that Rabindra had returned to his native village to attend a family function.

Acting on the tip-off, Kuakhia police conducted a late-night raid at his residence on Friday. During the search operation, police discovered a concealed underground room beneath the house, where Rabindra was hiding.

Police said the secret chamber had allegedly been constructed in 1994 to help him escape arrest. He is suspected of having used the hideout repeatedly over the years to avoid being caught by police.

Police further revealed that Rabindra got married in 1998 while continuing to live under a changed identity.