Thrissur: Alappuzha native Babu (aka Achar Babu, 73), who strangled his wife to death 14 years ago, has been arrested. He was initially caught eight years after the murder. He then went absconding after securing bail.

He murdered his wife, Devaki of Koratty, in October 2001 following a family dispute. Police said the woman's refusal to hand him the title to six cents of land triggered the fight between them.

In a fit of rage, he strangled Devaki of Thirumudikkunnu, Koratti, with a piece of cloth and slit her throat with a knife.

After the murder, Babu stole six sovereigns of gold jewellery and absconded. Eight years after the crime, a police team led by Koratti SI P Lalkumar apprehended him. However, after spending about two years in jail, he secured bail and disappeared again. He has been hiding in Madurai and Kottayam, police said.

A confidential tip-off received by the police revealed that he had been consistently withdrawing his pension amount.
Further probe indicated that he was in Kottayam. A police team led by Koratti SHO Amritharangan arrested him in Kottayam.

Koratti SIs OG Shaju, C P Shibu, Cyber Cell SI CS Suraj, andSenior CPOs P K Sajeesh Kumar, P S Faisal, and CPO Shyam P Antony were part of the probe team.