Mangaluru:  The Puttur police have arrested one Lingappa Poojary, who had evaded arrest in a theft case for the last 36 years.

Lingappa Poojary, a native of Kumbladi in Kadaba taluk, had gone missing after being accused in a theft case. He had served as an auto driver in Shivamogga for five years. Later, he married a woman from Tannirbavi in Mangaluru and changed his name as Rehmath Khan. For the past 29 years he was was staying in Tannirbavi and was engaged in selling clams. Based on a tip-off, the Puttur police arrested Lingappa alias Rehmath.