Kerala man wanted for attack on newspaper publisher in Kozhikode in 2005 brought back from United Arab Emirates

A Kerala man wanted in connection with a violent attack on a newspaper publisher in Kerala in 2005 was extradited from the United Arab Emirates and arrested by police at Delhi airport, officials said on Saturday.

The man, Khamis Othman Al Hammadi Otham, against whom a Red Notice was issued, was wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the attack on Shamsudheen, the owner of a daily newspaper called 'The Criminal'with a sword in Kozhikode in 2005.

Otham was taken into custody by a team of Kerala Police on Friday evening after his arrival in Delhi from the United Arab Emirates.

A group of three accused, including Otham, arrived in a van on KP Chandran Road in Kozhikode on July 15, 2005 and deliberately attacked Shamsudheen, who was sitting on the pillion seat, with swords in an attempt to kill him.

Shamsudheen was seriously injured in the attack.

At the request of the Kerala Police, the CBI issued a Red Notice against Otham on February 17, 2020.

The CBI’s Global Operations Centre worked closely with Kerala Police and INTERPOL NCB-Abu Dhabi to geolocate the accused.