Rape accused hiding in Sabarimala forests for a decade arrested

Amid growing concerns over unidentified individuals breaking into homes along the Sabarimala forest fringes, the Pathanamthitta district police have apprehended a rape accused who had been on the run for over a decade. The man had been living deep inside the forests without a mobile phone, permanent residence or even a photo on police records.

The accused, Appukuttan (39), a native of Manjathodu, was captured near the Tamil Nadu border at Aryankavu by a special investigation team from the Pampa police station. The team had spent days combing the forests, navigating extremely harsh terrain in pursuit of the fugitive, who frequently shifted locations

“The breakthrough came after nine months as the team trekked through forest regions across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Tribal communities in the region did not cooperate or provide any useful information,” said a senior official.

Appukuttan was initially arrested in 2011 for the alleged sexual assault of two tribal women. After securing bail, he absconded without attending trial. Although he was briefly taken into custody again, he vanished soon after being granted bail a second time.

A special team was formed under the supervision of Ranni Deputy Superintendent of Police R. Jayaraj, with Pampa Inspector C.K. Manoj leading the operation. The team launched a series of searches across the forest that extended to the tribal settlements as well.

Eventually, officials received intelligence indicating that the accused was living in isolation deep within the forest.

Suspecting that he may have crossed into Tamil Nadu, the investigation was extended across the border. Officers camped in Tamil Nadu for several days to intensify the manhunt.They eventually gathered information that the accused had been moving between various locations in Tamil Nadu and was occasionally sighted at Puliyara, near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

“With assistance from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, our officers carried out targeted searches in these areas,” the official added. The breakthrough finally came when the accused was trapped near the Aryankavu Excise Check Post.

Even during his arrest and subsequent medical examination, the accused reportedly tried to intimidate and physically confront police officers. He was eventually subdued and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

There have been similar reports suggesting the presence of reclusive individuals living deep inside the forests of Pathanamthitta on earlier occasions too. One such individual, who is believed to have taken refuge in forest caves, has been linked to repeated theft of groceries from houses on the forest fringes.

Published - June 08, 2025 08:08 pm IST