PANCHTHAR: Police have held a murder convict who was on the run since the past 17 years after court passed its verdict sentencing him to serve 19.5 years jail term.

74-year-old Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of the then Hangum-3, now Tumbewa Rural Municipality-5 was arrested from his hiding in his residence, police informed.

Shrestha was accused of murdering local Santa Bahadur Tamang after torching a shed in flames while Tamang was asleep inside on December 1, 2001.

Passing down its verdict the District Court, Panchthar had sentenced the murder-felon to serve 19 years 5 months and 25 days in jail.

The convict has been sent to jail on Saturday.