Kerala was rocked by a shocking incident in the early hours of Friday when a notorious one-armed convict in the Soumya rape-murder case escaped from Kannur Central Jail. Within hours of his daring breakout, he was dramatically chased down and recaptured. Beyond the jailbreak and his swift capture, serious questions have emerged about how the convict managed to nearly escape from Kannur Central Jail, a highly secure facility with electric fencing and two 6-meter-high wall.
The Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services department has suspended four jail officials on charges of grave security lapses, dereliction of duty and criminal negligence following the incident. They included the head warden and three night-time jail custodians. Allegations have surfaced that the notorious convict, with the aid of accomplices outside, bribed police officials to facilitate his daring escape from Kannur Central Jail. Shockingly, it was revealed that the electric fencing, a critical security feature, was completely powerless during the convict’s breakout, casting serious doubts on the jail’s security integrity. Here’s a brief overview of Govindachamy’s meticulous planning over the past 20 days and the events that unfolded within the Kannur Central Jail premises from Thursday night.
How He Jumped The Jail
Govindachamy skillfully cut through the prison gate and slipped out. Evading the guards, he reached the perimeter wall, using a pre-placed cloth to scale it. He climbed over two such high-security walls, eventually reaching Kannur city. However, while the initial stages of his escape were executed with ease, the journey beyond proved far more challenging.
After escaping, Govindachamy went four kilometres on foot. At dawn, he navigated through alleys, hiding in bushes whenever he spotted people. Sensing that locals might have recognised him, he sought refuge in an abandoned house. However, when the police, accompanied by locals and a dog squad, surrounded the house, he leapt into a well in a desperate bid to evade capture. The police ultimately apprehended him there.
The dog squad traced the same route Govindachamy likely took, following his path through the initial four kilometers and into the bushes, alerting authorities to his escape route. Yet, how he managed to breach the high-security Kannur Central Jail remains a perplexing issue for officials. Govindachamy had fashioned a headscarf from cloth scraps collected over time in his cell. He spent days amassing a bundle of clothes near the prison wall to aid his escape.
Meticulous Preparations
The Kannur SP confirmed that Govindachamy’s breakout was the result of meticulous preparations spanning approximately 20 days. He scaled a six-meter-high wall and passed through electric fencing, which, astonishingly, had no power at the time. The mystery of how he knew the fence was de-energised persists. Additionally, Govindachamy’s attire at the time of his arrest raises further questions. While police initially reported he escaped in black clothing, it’s evident he changed clothes after his breakout, adding to the enigma surrounding his escape. He escaped by cutting two lower bars of his cell, likely using a hacksaw blade sourced from ongoing prison construction work. For days, he meticulously sawed the bars, possibly weakening them further by applying salt to induce rust.
To scale the 6-meter (20-foot) jail wall, Govindachamy rigorously trained to reshape his body for agility, crucial for his escape, despite missing his left hand. To slim down, he avoided rice, sticking to chapatis on a doctor’s prescription, ultimately shedding half his body weight. He himself was vigorously training inside the cell to make his body fit. There are also reports that Govindachamy once threw faeces at police officers stationed outside the jail, prompting authorities to install a screen inside his cell to prevent
What Happened On The Early Hours Of Friday?
Govindachamy escaped his cell around 1:15 AM today, sleeping near the wall under heavy rain, shrouded in a blanket and mosquito net. The 10th block cell, where he was housed, had no lighting. At 1:10 AM, a warden checked with a torch, noting him covered by a blanket. He escaped by cutting two lower bars of his cell, likely using a hacksaw blade sourced from ongoing prison construction work. For days, Govindachamy carefully sawed the cell bars, which he had deliberately weakened and rusted by applying salt.
Using tied clothes and two large drums, he climbed the fencing wire, then lowered the same clothes to descend. He also took clothes left out to dry, changing into white jail attire for his escape. CCTV footage from the jail’s veranda has been released, though no cameras monitor the cells. Shockingly, the electric fencing has been without power for over two years. Several members of the public provided tips about Govindachamy’s escape, with three offering precise information. He was found hiding in a well in an empty field in Thalappu. After his capture, he was taken to the town police station. An investigation is underway to determine if he received assistance from inside or outside the jail. The officers on duty during the incident have been suspended.
Soumya Murder Case
On February 1, 2011, Govindachamy raped and murdered 23-year-old Soumya from Manjakkad near Shornur while she was traveling on a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shornur. Convicted for the brutal killing, Govindachamy reportedly attempted to rob Soumya in the train. He had smashed her head against the train wall when she resisted, pushed her hands into the gap of a closing door and threw her off the train. He then jumped out, found her lying in a pool of blood, carried her to nearby woods, and brutally raped her. Soumya succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
