In a bizarre incident, a 58-year-old man in Tripura, wanted for two cases of theft committed 37 years ago, has been arrested, police said on Tuesday.

Acting on two permanent arrest warrants, the accused, one Sisir Dhar was arrested on Monday from Jirania in western Tripura, and was sent to the Chief Judicial Magistrate court, officer-in-charge of West Agartala police station Subrata Chakraborty told the media.

He said that Dhar, who has become a grandfather now, had committed two thefts in 1981 in Agartala. Details of the crimes are, however, not available with police.

After his crime, Dhar was absconding for many years. During the past few years he was working as a labourer to earn his family’s livelihood.

According to police sources, Dhar had stolen a sum of Rs 840 from two incidents of theft that he committed 37 years ago.

Dhar also changed his identity and came to be known as Abinash Das, alias Sadhu. He was arrested by officials from the Airport police station near Agartala from his house at Narayanpur in western Tripura, a police spokesman said.

Police later produced the accused before a court, which sent him to 14 days police custody.

The accused was absconding for the past 37 years after he had stolen Rs 840 from a neighbour.