Jamshedpur, Nov. 26: A criminal, wanted in at least 12 cases, was arrested from his in-laws’ house in a Seraikela village last evening.

Sagar Lohar, considered a terror of Singhbhum, was held with a country-made loaded pistol from Bhabudih village, about 60km from here.

The 25-year-old criminal was wanted in cases of murder, loot and robbery committed in Seraikela-Kharsawan district and the twin districts of Singhbhum. He is also the prime accused in the murder of Bucchu Ghosh, a liquor mafia killed in March.

About six last evening, a Tiger Mobile Police jawan followed Sagar — riding a motorcycle (BR16K-7971) — to the village in Seraikela sub-division where his in-laws are staying.

Once the jawan was sure that the criminal was in a particular house in Bhabudih village, he sounded an alert, leading Seraikela-Kharsawan district police officers to rush with a huge force there. Reaching Bhabudih, the officers raided the house where Sagar was staying and subsequently swooped over it. Sagar was arrested immediately.

Seraikela police station inspector Shyam Behari Singh, who led the team, later frisked Lohar and recovered the loaded pistol tucked in his waist.

A resident of Tiunia village in Seraikela, Sagar had earned notoriety in a comparatively early age.

He used to rob businessmen with committing several loots. As he would be armed and assisted by associates, no one would come forward to confront him.

Sagar was suspected to be involved in Rs 1.29-lakh loot from Adityapur industrial area in January. Laxman Prasad Singh, the superintendent of police of Seraikela-Kharsawan, said that Sagar had a network in the underworld in Jamshedpur and also West Singhbhum.

A special task force was earlier set up to arrest Sagar and some other criminals operating in Seraikela-Kharsawan and Singhbhum districts.

“The special task force, on trail of Sagar, had gathered all information — from Sagar’s in-laws’ house to hideouts in Seraikela and Jamshedpur and also his modus operandi,” Singh said, adding Sagar was a “prize catch” for the district police.

Singh said the police also picked up two criminals — Bhuta Lohar and Tapouri from Saldi Bustee in Adityapur — soon after arresting Sagar.

Two loaded pistols were also recovered from the possession of the duo.