Viyyur jail attack: Prison officer, inmate injured in violent clash

THRISSUR: A jail official and a jail inmate were injured after being attacked by two prisoners at the high-security prison in Viyyur. The attackers were Azharuddin (36), an accused in the Coimbatore blast case, and Maoist Manoj (27). The incident happened around 6 p.m. when they were asked to return to their cell. Assistant Prison Officer Abhinav (28) was beaten up. Another prisoner, Rejikumar (56), who tried to intervene, was also assaulted.

Both victims, who suffered injuries to the face and chest, were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Mulangunnathukavu. Azharuddin reportedly verbally abused and physically assaulted Abhinav first. Manoj joined in, shouting slogans in support of Azharuddin and later attacking the officer. The Viyyur Police have registered a case.

Azharuddin is an accused in the 2022 Coimbatore car blast case and is also linked to the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings. Arrested by the NIA in 2019, he faces charges related to ISIS links and terrorist recruitment. Maoist Manoj, also known as Ashiq, was arrested in July 2024 at the Ernakulam South Railway Station. He is accused in 16 cases, including 10 under the UAPA, and was an active member of the Maoist Kabani group.