: A murder-accused who jumped jail nine years ago was arrested on Monday after a mobile phone vendor alerted the police on suspicion that he had produced a fake identity card to procure a new cell connection. P. Abhilash, who was serving life-term in the Kannur Central prison in connection with the murder of a homemaker, Fathima, 50, at Palakkulam, near Manjeri, in Malappuram district during a burglary attempt in May 2001, was re-arrested by Town SI Ranjith Raveendran.
Abhilash had evaded arrest by staying in and around various Kerala towns under fictitious names after he escaped from jail in September 2007. He visited the mobile phone outlet on M.G. Road here to dispose of his cell phone.
When the mobile phone shop owner, Noushad, sought documents to establish his identity, he found that the photo in the original document had been tampered with. Suspecting foul play, Mr. Noushad alerted the police. Abhilash was produced before a court here on Monday and sent to the sub-jail.
He is likely to be taken to Kannur where a case against him is pending in connection with 2007 jail-break, Mr. Ranjith Raveendran said.
