Thiruvananthapuram | A prison department official and his wife were allegedly assaulted by a former inmate at Chala Market here, police said on Sunday.

Fort Police have registered a case against T S Ashish for allegedly attacking Prijith H Nair, an Assistant Prison Officer from Menamkulam, at Chala Market on Saturday night.

According to police, Ashish had earlier been arrested and remanded in a case related to the assault of a doctor in Thiruvananthapuram.

He was lodged in the prison where Nair was on duty as an Assistant Prison Officer.

Police said Ashish was recently released from jail.

On Saturday night, when Nair and his family had gone to Chala Market for shopping, Ashish allegedly approached them and assaulted the prison officer.

When Nair's wife tried to intervene, she was also attacked, police said.

People gathered at the spot following the incident, after which Ashish fled, officials said.

Nair and his wife were later shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Fort Police have registered a case and launched efforts to trace the accused.

Police said Ashish had earlier been involved in incidents of attacking prison officials while lodged in jail.