MAVELIKARA: An accused sentenced to life in 1996 for murder was found back after evading police for 27 years. Arunoottimangalam native Reji(Achamma) was arrested by Mavelikara police. Reji was living a second life disguised as Mini Raju in Pallarimangalam when police caught her.

Reji was found guilty of killing Mariamma in 1990. Mariamma had seven knife wounds on her body. The victim's ear was cut off and her jewelry missing. Reji used a kitchen knife to kill Mariamma. She was the foster daughter of Mariamma and the two shared a close bond which put the public into disbelief about the crime.

In 1993, the lack of evidence proved costly as Mavelikara additional sessions court acquitted Reji in the murder. The case was reconsidered back on September 11, 1996, after the prosecution made an appeal. The court rescinded its earlier decision and sentenced Reji to life imprisonment. However, hours after the verdict, Reji went undercover and was never seen again. The Kerala police went into search in Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Andhra, and many other states but returned empty.

For the last five years, Reji was working as a salesgirl in a shop near Adivadu. According to police, Reji may earn infamy for evading police for all these years, coming second only to the notorious name, Sukumara Kurup.