Dehradun,Friday, July 27, 2001: In a major breakthrough in Phoolan Devi murder case, police on Friday arrested the prime suspect Pankaj alias Sher Singh Rana at Dehradun.

Pankaj was arrested in Dalanwala area of the city, police said adding that he was being taken to Delhi for interrogation. Pankaj had emerged as a prime suspect among the three assailants who had gunned down Phoolan outside her Ashok Road residence in the high-security area in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.

Police sources in Delhi said Pankaj who "walked into the police station on his own", was arrested after a series of raids were conducted by Delhi police Crime Branch team, headed by DCP M S Upadhyay, along with state police officials. A large number of people were picked up for interrogation during the raids last night which included family members of Pankaj.