POOKKOTTUMPADAM: A man who went into hiding after getting released on bail in a double murder case in Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu was arrested from Nilambur in Malappuram after 17 years. The arrested person is Tirunelveli Alagiyapandiyapuram native Rasheed (48). He had been living in Nilambur with his family after getting married to a woman from Chulliyode near Pookkotumopadam.

The murders occurred in 2005 in Nagercoil within the boundaries of the Bhutapandi police station as a result of a dispute between two businesses. Rasheed, who was the third accused in one of these cases and the sixth accused in the second, was soon arrested by the police. However, he managed to go into hiding after being released on bail. He then moved to Malappuram and got married to a woman from Chulliyode. Rasheed, who was working as a tapper, had gone abroad in search of work for a short period. He returned recently. The Pookottumpadam police arrested him after receiving a tip-off about his past criminal background. A special team led by the Bhutapandi police inspector reached Pookottumpadam and took the accused to Nagercoil.