Alappuzha: The Nooranad police on Saturday remanded a 41-year-old convict on bail for attacking an elderly witness who had testified against him.

Sinil Raj, a resident of Thamarakkulam, is accused of assaulting Kunjumuhammed Ravuther (76) on December 24, 2024. Sinil grabbed Kunjumuhammed's walking stick and struck him on the head and other parts of his body, police said.

Kunjumuhammed, who sustained injuries in the attack, gave a statement to the police while being treated at the Adoor General Hospital. Based on this, the police registered a case.

Sinil Raj is reportedly linked to a gang, officials said. After fleeing Tamil Nadu, he returned to Kerala when he learned the police were searching for him, officials added. Nooranad Sub-Inspector S Nitheesh apprehended him at Keralapuram, near Kundara.

Sinil was presented before the Mavelikara JFMC and remanded for further investigation. A team of officers, including Nooranad SI S Nitheesh, ASI Sinu Varghese, Senior Civil Police Officer A Sarath, and Civil Police Officers Kalesh K and Manukumar P, made the arrest.

Sinil and his co-accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 for the 2007 murder of Venugopal at Thamarakkulam, Alappuzha.