Kerala Police arrest man after 24 years on the run for sexual assault
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Thiruvananthapuram: In a dramatic breakthrough, Vanchiyoor police on Wednesday arrested Muthu Kumar, a man who had been absconding for over two decades after being charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in 2001.
Kumar, a native of Niramankara in Thiruvananthapuram, was working as a private tuition teacher when he allegedly lured the student out of her classroom and assaulted her at his residence. Before police could apprehend him, he vanished, evading multiple investigation teams over the years.
To avoid detection, Kumar changed his identity and religion, adopting the name Sam. He lived and worked in Chennai for several years, frequently shifting residences and avoiding all traceable communication, no mobile phones, bank accounts, or digital records. He relied on public telephone booths to stay in touch with acquaintances and family.
Investigators believe he moved across several southern cities before settling in Chennai, where he eventually married and began working as a priest under his assumed identity.
The breakthrough came when a call was traced to his home in Thiruvananthapuram, prompting police to follow the lead to Chennai. Upon being confronted, Kumar attempted to flee but was swiftly overpowered and taken into custody.
He has since been brought back to the state capital and will be produced before a local court. Police said the arrest followed sustained surveillance and tracking through associates and church records.
(Inputs from IANS)