Police in Kochi arrested a painter on Monday nine years after he allegedly went on a Ripper-style killing spree bludgeoning at least nine persons sleeping on pavements to death.

Kunjumon, a drug addict, began his killing spree in 2007, police said.

Homeless people sleeping on the roadside were his target. Kunjumon, hailing from Thevara near Kochi, allegedly hit the head of the people using heavy stones as they woke up when he tried to rob them.

Recently, he had tried to attack a man, who managed to escape.

Following a police complaint, Kunjumon was arrested and during questioning, confessed to killing at least nine persons, police said.

Ripper-style attacks refer to an unidentified serial killer named 'Jack the Ripper' who was thought to have brutally murdered and mutilated five prostitutes in impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London from 1888 to 1891.