Kannur: Critical information has emerged as an intensive search operation progresses for Govindachamy, the convict in the Soumya murder case, who escaped from jail. CCTV footage confirms that Govindachamy broke out of jail at 1:15 AM.
Jail authorities were alerted about the escape at 5:00 AM when trainee jail officials, leaving the premises, noticed a piece of cloth on the wall.
They immediately informed the jail authorities. After confirming the absence of the inmate from his cell, a thorough search was conducted throughout the jail compound.
The Kannur Town Police received information about the escape at 7:10 AM. Searches are currently underway at various locations in the city, including the railway station and bus stand.
Govindachamy escaped from the tenth block of the Central Jail, which comprises 68 cells for hardened criminals. This high-security prison has four sub-blocks. Govindachamy was housed in ‘B’ block.
The high-security jail has a smaller inner wall, followed by a quarantine zone with a larger wall measuring 6 meters in height. Above this, there is a 1.5-meter high fence. Crossing these barriers leads directly to the national highway.
Each sub-block is manned by one official on duty. Additionally, two officers are stationed in the towers, and two are assigned to monitor CCTV cameras. Furthermore, officials conduct physical inspections before 12:00 AM and after 1:00 AM every night.
Soumya was brutally raped and murdered on February 1, 2011, on the Shornur Passenger train. The case involved Soumya, an employee of a private firm in Kochi, who was pushed out of the Ernakulam-Shornur Passenger train, raped, and then murdered while returning home.
The Supreme Court had overturned Govindachamy’s death sentence. However, the Supreme Court ruled that all other orders of the lower court, including the life imprisonment for rape, would remain in effect. Soumya was attacked on February 1, 2011, in the women’s compartment of a train traveling from Ernakulam to Shornur.
According to police findings, Govindachamy, a native of Tamil Nadu, pushed Soumya out of the train and brutally raped and murdered her. Soumya, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, died on February 6 at Thrissur Medical College. Although Govindachamy was initially sentenced to death in this case, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court bench, headed by Ranjan Gogoi, delivered the verdict on Govindachamy’s appeal against the Thrissur fast-track court’s death sentence. During the arguments, the court had expressed doubt as to whether Govindachamy, who has only one hand, could have pushed the girl. The Thrissur fast-track court had sentenced Govindachamy to death, along with life imprisonment and a fine of one lakh rupees.
The High Court had upheld this verdict.On February 1, 2011, a 23-year-old employee of a private firm in Kochi, traveling on the Kochi-Shornur Passenger train, was subjected to brutal torture. The girl died on February 6 at Thrissur Medical College.
