Kochi: Police issue lookout notice for Martin Joseph Pulikotta, the man accused of illegal confinement, rape and torture of a woman in his Kochi flat in Marine Drive.
The woman, a Thrissur native and Martin from Kannur, had started to live together in the flat since February of 2020. Martin had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from the victim during this time. Their relation soured and the woman was locked up in the flat for 22 days and and suject to extreme torture. The image of abuse showed black and blue contusions all over the body and burns at places. The victim was also forced to drink urine. She somehow managed to escape four months back and lodged a complaint with Ernakulam central police station although there has been allegedly no progress or capture of the culprit since. Images of body injuries were posted on social media by the victim sparked outcry, following which the police issued a lookout notice for the culprit on Tuesday. The probe team findings earlier suggested the couple’s relation deteriorated over financial matters between them leading to escalated violence, police said.
Meanwhile, an anticipatory bail from Martin is scheduled to be heard today. The Vanitha Commission chairperson MC Josephine called the Circle Inspector in Ernakulam reprimanding police inaction in the case.
