Kochi flat assault case: Martin Joseph arrested from hideout

KOCHI: Police have arrested Martin Joseph Pulikottil, the accused in the case of brutally raping a young woman at his flat in Kochi. The accused was arrested by the police from a hiding place in Mundur. Earlier, the police had conducted an extensive search in the forest in Thrissur for Martin Joseph. Police had found that Martin Joseph had gone into hiding in a forest hideout in Thrissur.

Police had reached Martin's home yesterday. Martin Joseph escaped from the Kakkanad flat with his bags at around 4 am on June 8 after the police intensified their investigation. Police arrested three friends who helped Martin to escape.

Martin is reported to have brutally abused not only the young woman who lodged the complaint with the police but also another young woman. Another woman complained to police that Martin had beaten her up in her flat. The police registered a case on the complaint.