On the run for 28 years; man arrested for killing soldier

ALAPPUZHA: A man who committed murder and went fugitive has been caught after 28 years by Mavelikara police. Chettikulangara native Sreekumar (51) was the second accused in the murder of Jayaprakash in 1995.

Sreekumar was staying for all these years in Cheruvannur in Kozhikode under the pseudonym ‘Chinku’. The incident happened on January 12, 1995. Military man Jayaprakash was embroiled in a feud with Sreekumar, Pramod, and Jayachandran at Kattuvally temple ground. A scuffle happened and Jayaprakash was injured badly, only to be shifted to the medical trust hospital in Kochi. Jayaprakash soon succumbed to the injuries.

Sreekumar went into oblivion right after the crime while the other two surrendered before the court. The court declared Sreekumar a wanted criminal while the other two were set free by the court after the hearing. Sreekumar escaped to Mangalore right after the murder. He found a living here working as an electrician for many years. It was through his friend that Sreekumar shifted base to Kozhikode to start anew by working in a hotel. He got settled with his wife and children in Kozhikode. Alappuzha district police chief Chaitra Teresa John had earlier assigned a special investigation team to arrest Sreekumar.