Kerala Man Arrested After 25 Years in Wife’s Murder Case, Cold Case Revival Cracks Mystery

In a significant breakthrough, Kerala Police have arrested a man nearly 25 years after he allegedly murdered his wife and went into hiding, evading authorities for decades.

The accused, identified as Hameed , had been absconding since September 2001 , when his wife Jameela was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Edachery. According to police officials, Hameed allegedly strangled Jameela and inflicted a fatal head injury , leading to her death. As suspicion began to centre on him during the initial investigation, he fled and remained untraceable despite multiple search efforts across Kerala and other states.

Police said the case went cold over the years due to lack of concrete leads, limited technological tools at the time, and the accused’s ability to live under the radar . However, the investigation was recently revived as part of a special drive to reopen long-pending cases .

Fresh efforts included circulating old photographs of the accused, re-examining witness accounts, and monitoring the phone records of his relatives , which eventually yielded a crucial lead. Investigators received a tip-off that Hameed was living within the jurisdiction of Adhur police station in Kasaragod district.

Acting on the information, a joint team tracked him down and found that he had been living under a low profile as a fish vendor . He was taken into custody with the assistance of local police and brought back to Edachery, where his arrest was formally recorded.

Officials said the arrest underscores how renewed investigative focus and modern surveillance methods can help crack even decades-old cases, bringing long-awaited closure to victims’ families.