A Madrassa teacher was arrested for allegedly branding a student with an iron box in this northern Kerala district, police said on Saturday.

Umair Ashrafi, a native of Tanur in neighboring Malappuram district, was also accused of smearing chilli powder on the boy’s private parts, alleging disobedience, they said.

While the student recently filed a complaint with the police, the accused fled the state and was residing in hideouts in various places in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Based on information that he was coming from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, his home district, a police team arrived in Tanur and awaited his arrival on Thursday. Although Ashrafi attempted to flee upon seeing the police, he was later caught.

The Kannavam police arrested him and booked him into the relevant branches of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Ashrafi was produced before a local court which took him into custody on Friday, police added.