Agra, Jan 31 (IANS): The special task force (STF) of Agra police arrested Dhara Singh, a most-wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs.50,000 by the Uttar Pradesh government and Rs.25,000 by the Madhya Pradesh government, in Ahmedabad, police said Saturday.

STF head Rajesh Kumar told reporters that Dhara Singh, a resident of Dundipura village in Agra, had been operating from the Chambal ravines and was wanted in at least 17 cases of murder, assault, and abduction for ransom.

Police forces of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were actively on the look out for him and due to their increasing pressure, Dhara shifted base to Gujarat, where he worked as a truck driver for an ice cream factory.

Police said Dhara was planning to abduct an industrialist from Agra and demand a ransom of Rs.3 crore.

The STF team had been keeping an eye on him in Ahmedabad for the past several days as Dhara kept moving from one place to another. He was arrested Thursday evening in Ahmedabad and brought to Agra Friday evening on transit remand.