Attempt to murder journalist: Accused who was hiding abroad for 16 years arrested

KOZHIKODE: Abdul Rahiman, who was absconding abroad for the past 16 years after attempting to kill a journalist, has been arrested. The Kozhikode crime branch arrested Othman Khamis Othman Al Hamadi (Arabi Abdul Rahiman-47), a native of Kozhikode, who is the main accused in the case of attempting to hack journalist Basheer to death in Nadakkavu police station limits on July 15, 2005. The case, which was initially investigated by the Nadakkavu police, was later taken over by the Crime Branch and all the accused were arrested. Abdul Rahiman, who was later released on bail, fled abroad.

He changed his name to Othman Khamis Othman Al Hamadi in the UAE and had been hiding abroad for 16 years after making a passport under his new name. On May 6, when the accused arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from abroad, he was stopped by the immigration authorities. Abdul Rahiman is an accused in several cases at various stations including Kasaba and Nallalam.