Law catches up with prisoner after 26 years

HYDERABAD: A prisoner who escaped from Anantapur open-air prison 26 years back was arrested on Friday at Kaikaram, Unguturu mandal in West Godavari district. He was handed over to Anantapur jail authorities on Saturday.Kamana Venkanna (50) alias Venkateswara Rao stabbed to death his stepsister, two step-brothers and attempted to murder another step-brother over a land dispute. He was 21 years old in 1980 when the incident happened.The district sessions court awarded him life imprisonment and he was sent to Rajahmundry central prison in 1981. From Rajahmundry prison, he was sent to Anantapur open-air prison in 1985 on his request letter based on his good behaviour.In two months, he escaped from the open-air prison. After that, prison officials lodged a complaint at Anantapur urban police station.The police searched for Venkanna for seven years and then they lost hope The file was closed in 1992.On Friday, Venkanna was arrested by Ganapavaram circle inspector L Ankaiah at Kaikaram where Venkanna attended his brother’s daughter’s engagement function. The police were tipped-off by Venkanna’s step-brother who had survived the murder attempt.For the first time in history of the police department, a closed case was reopened after arrest of the prisoner, said B Sunil Kumar, additional inspectorgeneral (Prisons).“No one can escape from the law. One day it catches up with those who are guilty,” he added. Anantapurpris on superintendent I Srinivas Rao, who received Venkanna on Saturday from inspector L Ankaiah said, “We will produce him in Anantapur district court. After the verdict, Venkanna will be sent to Rajahmundry prison.” Venkanna, after escaping from the prison in 1985, reached Hyderabad, worked as a construction worker and settled in LB Nagar.He married his co-worker Savithri in 1989 and they have two children, a girl and a boy. Last year, he also got his daughter married.