A 23-year-old man was arrested by the Marad police and the city crime squad for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who was returning home on her scooter after work.

The accused, Muhammad Aflah, a native of Kundayithode in Cheruvannur, was taken into custody in Cheruvannur following an investigation into the incident, which occurred on the night of October 14.

According to the police, the woman, a native of Arakkinar, was travelling home on her scooter when Aflah allegedly followed her on a motorcycle, intercepted her on the public road at Mundakan Padam in Arakkinar and sexually assaulted her.

The police registered a case on the basis of the woman’s complaint and examined CCTV footage from the scene and neighbouring areas. The footage helped investigators identify the suspect, while a technical examination conducted with the cyber cell assisted in tracing him, the police said.

The accused had previously been booked in cases relating to the theft of iron rods and other materials stored along the Ramanattukara bypass for the construction of a flyover, the theft of cash after breaking into a supermarket in Nadakkavu, and alleged sexual assaults against women. Aflah was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody on Saturday (October 17, 2026).

The City police on Sunday (July 19, 2026) recovered the body of a 50-year-old man who was reportedly found murdered inside his residence near Palayam. The deceased was identified as Biju, a resident of Puthiyakovilakam Parambu.

According to police sources, the body was found in a pool of blood inside a room that was locked from outside. Preliminary investigations revealed multiple stab wounds, indicating a planned murder.

The incident came to light when the victim‘s mother alerted the police after growing suspicious of the locked room. A police team arrived at the spot and found Biju dead, having succumbed to continues bleeding from the injuries.

Meanwhile, local residents raised concerns over the long-standing menace of drug addicts in the area. They appealed to the police to investigate the possible involvement of narcotic gangs in the murder.

As part of the continuing probe, the investigation team collected closed circuit television camera visuals from various locations closer to the crime spots. They also recorded the detailed statements of some of the local residents after shifting the body to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for post mortem.