Parmanand Yadav, the main accused in the panchayat-approved murder of Himanshu Yadav, 26, in Bhagalpur district earlier in June, was arrested from Banka district late on Thursday night.

Himanshu, a resident of Gaurachauki village under the jurisdiction of Kajraili police station in Bhagalpur district, was attacked with blunt weapons and shot dead after the local panchayat ordered him to be killed for marrying a teenaged girl from the same village - Parmanand's daughter - he used to give tuitions to. The girl also happens to be Himanshu's niece.

Himanshu and Soni Kumari had eloped eight months ago and married at a local temple. They returned home on May 20 and started living as husband and wife.

Parmanand had lodged a kidnapping case alleging his daughter was a minor and had been kidnapped. But Soni told the court she was not a minor and had eloped of her own volition. Himanshu was released on bail. After that Parmanand approached the panchayat.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Kajrauli police station house officer (SHO) Vijay Kumar conducted a raid at Golahu village in neighbouring Banka district and nabbed Parmanand. Police said that he had taken shelter in a relative's house.

The SHO said Parmanand was produced before a Bhagalpur court that later remanded him in judicial custody for two weeks.

Parmanand had gone into hiding after Himanshu's murder on June 6.

"The girl is still traceless. The police suspect that family members killed her and tampered with evidence," the SHO told The Telegraph over phone on Friday.

Parmanand confessed to his crime and said he was upset after his daughter married Himanshu. "Neighbours used to pass unsavoury remarks against my family, which I couldn't tolerate and took the matter up with the panchayat," he purportedly told the interrogators.

He also admitted to being present on the spot when Himanshu was beaten up and subsequently shot but denied that he had fired at Himanshu. Himanshu's mother Jal Yas Devi had suffered bullet injuries when she tried to save her son.

Bhagalpur senior superintendent of police Manoj Kumar said two persons - Prakash Yadav and Raja Yadav - were earlier arrested and sent to jail in connection with the incident. Altogether 21 persons were made named accused in the FIR lodged by the Himanshu's mother.

The SSP said raids were still on to nab other accused in the case. Another person, Ashok Yadav, who had received bullet injuries in the firing, is recuperating at Mayaganj government hospital in Bhagalpur district.#