Man Arrested for Attack on Prison Officer in Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala police arrest Ashish for attempting to murder a prison officer; he was caught after a multi-state chase.
The Fort police in Thiruvananthapuram have arrested a man in connection with an alleged attempt to murder an assistant prison officer attached to the Poojappura Central Prison. The suspect, identified as Ashish, is said to be a habitual offender with multiple pending cases against him.
The attack took place on July 18, 2026, at the Chala market in Thiruvananthapuram. Police say the assault on officer Prajith stemmed from a previous grudge. Ashish had earlier been imprisoned, during which Prajith had reported his alleged anti-social activities to the Prison Superintendent. Investigators suspect this report was the motive for the attack.
After the incident, Ashish fled the scene. A probe based on his mobile phone records and other clues revealed that he had travelled to Madurai, then to Bengaluru, and later to Hyderabad. Acting on a tip-off that he had returned home, a Fort police team arrested him from his residence on Sunday.
Ashish has a history of criminal cases, including allegedly attacking a doctor at the General Hospital, assaulting a court official at the Vanchiyoor District Court, threatening the manager of a State Bank of India branch in Manacaud, and making a hoax bomb threat at a mosque in the same area. He has been remanded in judicial custody.