Assam prisoner Madhurjya Sonowal, who escaped from Aluva Sub Jail in Kerala, returned to a police station seeking his Aadhaar card before fleeing again, officials said. The unusual incident has triggered a wider search across Ernakulam district.
Sonowal, 28, is a native of Dhemaji in Assam. He had been lodged at the jail after his arrest in connection with a mobile phone theft case. Police have now issued a lookout circular and alerted other agencies as efforts continue to trace him.
Assam prisoner escapes from Aluva Sub Jail
The Assam prisoner escaped from Aluva Sub Jail on August 24, according to officials. He had been arrested by Edathala police the previous week with the assistance of Perumbavoor police.
After being produced before a court, Sonowal was remanded to judicial custody and taken to Aluva Sub Jail. Prison officials later found that he was missing when inmates were being counted after their scheduled movement inside the jail compound.
A preliminary inquiry by prison authorities reportedly indicated that Sonowal may have used an under-construction structure within the jail premises to reach and cross the compound wall. The exact circumstances of the escape remain under investigation.
Assam prisoner turns up at police station
The Assam prisoner then made an unexpected appearance at Perumbavoor police station. Officials said he went there to collect his Aadhaar card, which he apparently believed was still with the police following his earlier detention.
Initially, personnel at the reception desk did not recognise Sonowal. He reportedly asked for the identity document and was at the station before another officer recognised him.
According to officials, the officer had seen the lookout information issued after the jail escape. Once Sonowal realised that his identity had been established, he ran out of the police station.
Police personnel chased him through the Perumbavoor area, but he managed to escape again. Search teams subsequently intensified their efforts in the surrounding locality.
Why the Aadhaar visit drew attention
The Assam prisoner appeared to take a significant risk by returning to a police station shortly after his escape. Officials said his request for the Aadhaar card may have been linked to his need for an identity document.
For migrant workers, Aadhaar can be an important document for employment and other routine requirements. However, officials have not publicly confirmed Sonowal’s specific plans after seeking the card.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions about how an escaped detainee was able to enter a police station without being immediately identified. A separate inquiry has reportedly been ordered into the police response.
Search expands across Kerala
The search for the Assam prisoner has now been widened. Police have issued a lookout circular and shared information with police stations across the state.
The Railway Protection Force has also been informed amid concerns that Sonowal could attempt to leave Kerala by train. Police in Assam are expected to be alerted as well, particularly if he attempts to travel towards his home district in Dhemaji.
The coordinated response reflects the effort to prevent the fugitive from leaving the state while investigators examine his movements after the escape. Officials have also been checking the Perumbavoor area and nearby locations.
Jail security inquiry underway
The escape has also prompted scrutiny of security arrangements at Aluva Sub Jail. The Prison Department has launched an investigation into the circumstances that allowed Sonowal to leave the facility.
Reports on Thursday said departmental action had been initiated against three jail employees following the incident. The authorities are also examining the reported security lapse at the Perumbavoor police station, where Sonowal was able to approach the reception desk before being recognised.
For now, the Assam prisoner remains at large, while Kerala police continue their search. Authorities have asked police units and transport-security agencies to remain alert. The investigation will focus both on locating Sonowal and determining how the sequence of security failures occurred.
The case has drawn attention because the fugitive voluntarily returned to a police station after escaping from custody. However, officials are treating the matter as an active manhunt and security inquiry rather than as an isolated incident.