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One-armed rape convict Govindachamy escapes Kerala prison by cutting iron bars and scaling 7.5-meter wall, triggering massive manhunt
Police have informed the public about the jailbreak of Govindachamy, the convict in the Soumya rape and murder case, noting that he can be identified by a distinguishing feature — he is missing one arm.
Govindachamy, Accused in Rape and Murder Case, Escapes from Kannur Central Prison
Govindachamy, who is facing charges of rape and murder, escaped from the Central Prison in Kannur, Kerala, on Friday morning.
Authorities say details about the escape are still being gathered. “A large-scale search operation is currently underway, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” Kannur police said in an official statement.
Police have alerted the public about a jailbreak, identifying the escaped convict, Govindachamy, by a distinctive feature — he is missing one arm.
Govindachamy was serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of 23-year-old Soumya. The crime occurred on February 1, 2011, when Soumya was attacked while travelling on a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shoranur.
Govindachamy reportedly escaped from a high-security prison by cutting through a wire and scaling a tall wall, according to Mathrubhumi. He had been confined in Block 10 of the jail, where he managed to sever the cell’s wire enclosure before making his daring escape over the massive perimeter wall.
Initially, police suspected that Govindachamy had not entered his cell before it was locked at 6 p.m. on Thursday. However, CCTV footage later confirmed that he had exited the cell, dispelling those doubts.
According to the report detailing the jailbreak, Govindachamy had spent several days planning his escape. He allegedly used a saw-like tool to cut through the cast iron bars of his cell.
The report noted that it was highly suspicious for Govindachamy, who has only one arm, to have scaled the massive wall of the central jail. According to Mathrubhumi, the surrounding wall of Kannur Central Jail stands approximately 7.5 meters high and is topped with electric fencing. The prison currently houses over a thousand inmates.
Soumya Case Summary (2011)
Soumya, a 23-year-old woman employed at a private firm in Kochi, was the victim of a brutal assault on February 1, 2011, while traveling on the Kochi–Shornur passenger train. During the journey, she was allegedly attacked by Govindachamy, a man with a criminal background. The assault took place inside a ladies’ compartment and led to severe injuries. Soumya later succumbed to her injuries, making the case one of the most shocking crimes in Kerala’s recent history. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and brought attention to the issue of women’s safety in public transport.
Accoridng to the Hindustan Times, Govindachamy, a one-armed habitual offender from Virudhachalam in Cuddalore, allegedly threw Soumya off a moving train and raped her in the woods near the railway track at Vallathol Nagar railway station.
According to the Hindustan Times, Govindachamy—a one-armed habitual offender from Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district—allegedly attacked Soumya while she was traveling alone in the ladies’ compartment of a train. The incident occurred near Vallathol Nagar railway station on February 1, 2011.
The prosecution claimed that Govindachamy noticed Soumya alone and proceeded to assault her, eventually forcing her off the moving train. He then reportedly dragged her into nearby woods and raped her.
Soumya was found severely injured and was rushed to the Government Medical College in Thrissur, where she succumbed to her injuries on February 6, 2011.
According to the prosecution, shortly after the train departed from Vallathol Nagar railway station, Govindachamy assaulted the victim, Soumya, by repeatedly striking her head against the walls of the compartment. He then allegedly pushed her out of the moving train.
Govindachamy also exited the slowly moving train and discovered Soumya lying near the railway tracks. He then carried her into a nearby wooded area, where he sexually assaulted her. He was apprehended the following day at Palakkad railway station.
Supreme Court Quashes Govindachamy’s Death Sentence
In 2016, the Supreme Court set aside the death sentence awarded to Govindachamy, citing lack of conclusive evidence to prove the charge of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case revolved around the death of Soumya, who sustained fatal injuries, one of which was believed to have resulted from being pushed out of a moving train. However, a three-judge bench led by Justice Ranjan Gogoi questioned whether Govindachamy — who had only one functional arm — could have physically pushed her from the train. The Court expressed serious doubts over this claim, ultimately ruling that the evidence did not support the murder conviction.
Taking into account the benefit of the doubt given to the accused, the court set aside the murder charge and the death sentence previously imposed on Govindachamy by the high court.
However, the court upheld that the incident was indeed a case of rape. It confirmed that the life imprisonment for the rape conviction, along with the other sentences handed down under different sections, would remain in effect.
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