Public Outrage: The convict, who was serving a life sentence, disappeared from his cell early Friday. Soumya’s mother has questioned how such a lapse occurred in a fortified jail.
By PC Bureau
July 25, 2025 — Govindachamy, the convict serving a life sentence in the brutal 2011 Soumya rape and murder case, has escaped from the high-security Kannur Central Jail in Kerala, police confirmed on Friday. The escape has triggered a massive manhunt and raised serious questions about prison security protocols.
The disappearance came to light during a routine inspection of his cell in the early hours of Friday. According to jail officials, Govindachamy was found missing around 5 a.m., and the Kannur Town Police were informed by 7 a.m. A search operation was immediately launched in and around the prison premises, but the inmate remained untraceable as of Friday evening.
Kannur: 2011 Soumya rape and murder accused Govindachamy escapes from Kannur Central Jail.
Govindachamy was serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of 23-year-old Soumya, who was attacked while travelling on a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shoranur on pic.twitter.com/NDHuI2QgGr
— AIBS News 24 (@AIBSNews24) July 25, 2025
Authorities have not yet confirmed how the convict managed to escape from one of Kerala’s most fortified jails. Initial reports suggest that the electric fencing on the prison walls had been deactivated at the time of the escape, raising suspicions of internal collusion. Jail sources have also pointed out that Govindachamy, who has only one arm, would not have been able to scale the high walls without assistance.
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Soumya’s mother, Sumathy, expressed anguish and disbelief over the escape. “Kannur jail is huge. How can he jump and escape from there? He can’t do that without support. It’s impossible. Someone inside is helping him. He has only one arm and the wall is huge. He should be caught immediately. I don’t think he would have left Kannur yet,” she told the media.
BJP state president K. Surendran alleged grave lapses in the prison system and even hinted at the possibility of a staged escape. “The notorious criminal escaped at 1 a.m. The prison authorities found out at 5 a.m. and informed the police only at 7 a.m. There was electric fencing on the wall, but the electricity was conveniently turned off. Everything is suspicious. Was it really an escape or was he helped to flee?” he said. Surendran also noted that CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan and the local MLA from Thrikaripur are on the prison advisory committee, implying possible political shielding.
Who Was Govindachamy?
Govindachamy, a repeat offender and habitual criminal from Tamil Nadu, had multiple cases against him for theft and assault when he committed the heinous crime in 2011. On February 1 that year, he targeted 23-year-old Soumya, who was travelling alone in the ladies’ compartment of a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shoranur. Govindachamy pushed her out of the moving train, jumped off after her, dragged her to a secluded spot near the tracks, and raped her. She sustained severe injuries and succumbed to them on February 6, 2011.
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The case shocked Kerala and triggered widespread outrage across the country.
In 2011, a trial court in Kerala sentenced Govindachamy to death for rape and murder. However, in 2016, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, ruling that while there was sufficient evidence of rape, the prosecution failed to conclusively prove that the fatal injuries were caused by Govindachamy and not by the fall from the train. The apex court’s verdict, delivered on September 15, 2016, sparked public anger and protests, with many viewing it as a dilution of justice.
As of now, the Kerala Police have formed multiple special teams to track down Govindachamy. Checkpoints have been set up across Kannur and surrounding districts, and railway stations and bus terminals are being closely monitored.
