News and pics : Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, May 2: Kasargod city station sub inspector Ranjith Raveendran led police team has arrested a murder convict who had escaped from Kannur prison nine years ago.

The arrested suspect is identified as Vaikam P Abhilash (40) from Kaidalath in Kottayam district.

The police had arrested Abhilash for entering the house of Beefathumma (50) in Manjeriya forest of Malappuram district, killing her after strangulating and decamping with 17 sovereigns of gold on her in 2001. Manjeri court had sentenced Abhilash to life imprisonment on April 26, 2003. He was undergoing imprisonment in Kannur jail and escaped from there climbing the walls of the prison hoodwinking the prison staff on October 20, 2007.

Abhilash had initially worked in Kasargod and Calicut after escaping from the prison by changing his appearance and name. Subsequently he worked in restaurants and bakeries in Bengaluru and Mumbai. He had changed his name as Vaishak, Biju, Kunhi, Kannan etc while working. He later came back to Kerala and worked in hotels and bakeries in Thiruvalla, Kottayam and Kuthikulam.

Abhilash worked in several places by showing duplicate Aadhar card and voter's ID obtained by him after escaping from prison. He had stayed in a lodge in Kasargod a few days ago. Meanwhile he had come to a mobile shop in Kasargod MG Road to sell his mobile as he ran out of money. The shop keeper asked for his Aadhar card, suspected him and informed the police. Police, who arrived, took him into custody and questioned him in the police station, came to know that he had escaped from prison. Police have said that Aadhar card, voter's ID and other records with him are fake.

Police have recovered two knives, a mask and gloves from him. Police have informed Kannur police of his arrest.

Beefathumma was killed by Abhilash and his wife Sreeja. The court had sentenced both of them into imprisonment. However his wife Sreeja is released after spending her prison term. Abhilash who had escaped from prison was a challenge for the police.