A recent jailbreak in Kerala took an unexpected turn when a 28-year-old remand prisoner, Madhurjya Sonowal, allegedly returned to a police station—not to surrender, but to retrieve his Aadhaar card, which he believed had been left behind. This audacious move, however, led to his recognition and a dramatic second escape.
The Initial Escape from Aluva Sub-Jail
Madhurjya Sonowal, originally from Dhemaji, Assam, was initially arrested in connection with a mobile phone theft case. He was accused of stealing smartphones from workers at a plywood factory in the Edathala industrial area. After being intercepted by Perumbavoor police and subsequently handed over to Edathala police on August 23, he was remanded to judicial custody at Aluva Sub-Jail.
Sonowal made his initial escape on a Monday evening during the inmates' routine recreation and bathing break. Police sources indicate that around 4 p.m., prisoners were allowed into the prison yard. Exploiting a security lapse, Sonowal reportedly scaled the prison boundary wall near the kitchen and vanished. Jail authorities only realized he was missing during the headcount before inmates were locked back into their cells, immediately alerting the police.
A Bold Return to Perumbavoor Police Station
Instead of immediately disappearing, Sonowal allegedly made his way to the Perumbavoor Police Station. He approached the sentry desk, requesting his Aadhaar card. Authorities believe he assumed that the officers on duty would not recognize him, as the personnel involved in his earlier detention had rotated shifts.
A senior police officer in Perumbavoor explained that Sonowal had spent only a limited time at the station during his initial detention. “It was for a very limited time that he was held here initially. The personnel on duty had rotated out after standard day-and-night shifts. When he approached the sentry desk asking for his card, that officer could not immediately identify him,” the officer stated.
Recognition and Second Flight
Sonowal's plan unravelled when another police officer at the station recognized him. This officer had seen the lookout alert issued following his escape from the sub-jail. Upon realizing he was identified, Sonowal immediately fled the station.
“Even though our personnel pursued him immediately, he could not be caught. Police teams searched across the market area and surrounding locations, but he is still at large,” the senior officer confirmed. Police teams chased him through the busy Perumbavoor market and adjoining roads, but he once again managed to disappear into the crowd.
Ongoing Manhunt
Police suspect Sonowal's attempt to retrieve his Aadhaar card was part of a broader strategy to leave Kerala and find work elsewhere, as Aadhaar is a crucial identity document for migrant workers seeking employment. A joint manhunt involving both police and prison authorities has since been launched across Ernakulam and neighboring districts to trace the fugitive.