THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thampanoor police on Sunday arrested a habitual offender who had been declared ‘absconding’ after failing to appear in the court for trial in an earlier case. The police identified the accused as Chandran alias Ripper Chandran. He was previously arrested in connection with a theft case in 2009.

He failed to appear for the hearing. After efforts to nab him then came to a naught, he was declared an absconder. He was arrested, on charge of possessing ganja, by a team led by Thampanoor Circle Inspector D.K. Prithewiraj. He was remanded in judicial custody.