In a stunning lapse in prison security, life-imprisonment convict Govindachamy, who had been convicted of the 2011 Soumya rape-murder case, escaped early on Friday morning from the high-security Kannur Central Jail, a gigantic state-wide search operation started, and doubts were raised galore about jail safety.
Govindachamy, alias Charley Thomas, was a handicapped repeat offender who belonged to Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu. He has a well-established criminal record of robbery, mugging, and theft in Tamil Nadu. He became locally notorious throughout the nation after his conviction for raping and beating a 23-year-old woman called Soumya on a train traveling in Kerala in February 2011—a crime that stunned the nation and had it in protest about women's safety while traveling on public transport.
It was initially sentenced to death in 2012, but the Supreme Court reduced it to life imprisonment in 2016, convicted of rape and acquitted of murder with the suggestion of having no proof of intent to kill.
The breakout happened around 1:00 am, but the authorities only found out Govindachamy was missing while conducting a 7:15 am morning count. He used a razor, cut through iron bars, wrapped pieces of clothing in knots with an improvised rope, and climbed the high outer wall, all with only one good arm.
It is not known how he acquired the equipment and made it out alone, and the escape is being closely investigated.
The flight was confirmed by a CCTV snapshot over the top of an electrified and fenced perimeter fence. Authorities say the electricity to the security fence was mysteriously disabled during the time the escape was made.
A special task force police has been constituted, and a statewide search, is being conducted of railway junctions, bus stands, and border regions. His recent snaps have been put out by the authorities and people asked to be on the lookout, with a toll-free helpline available for providing information (9446899506). Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka police are on alert.
As the investigation deepens, bringing up questions of potential failures and conspiracy, the case has sparked controversy over the security situation in Indian prisons, particularly for high-risk prisoners.
The Soumya case consisted of the beating and fatal wounding of a young woman inside a women's compartment on a train. Govindachamy got onto the carriage, attacked Soumya, shoved her out of the running train, and afterwards raped her after he had jumped off as well. The victim subsequently died due to the injuries, and the case ignited fiery controversy regarding women's safety in public and India's penal and legal reactions being sufficient enough.
Amid the pick-up of the manhunt, public outcry is mounting at prison procedures and responsibility. Political figures and activist victims are crying for answers and speedy recapture, and sounding a warning on the dangers of the fugitive.
The police urged citizens to report information forthwith as Govindachamy was still on the run, driving home a point about reforms in handling high-profile prisoners.
