Police have arrested a fugitive accused of raping a girl in Dharan, Sunsari, 30 years after the incident.

The accused Lalit Rai, 50, alias Lalu, was on the run after he was convicted on charge of raping a girl in Dharan-16 in the year 1987, SP Dekendra Khatiwada at Area Police Office said.  Police said this could probably be the first arrest after such a long time on the run following court verdict.

According to police, a charge-sheet was filed against Rai, then 20, at the police office in 1987. Sunsari District Court had issued a verdict on September 21, 1990, upholding the rape charge and sentenced him to three years in prison. Police said the victim of rape at the hands of Rai has already died. He has confessed to his crime.