Prison officials discovered his absence only during routine checks, sparking an intensive manhunt across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Published Jul 25, 2025 | 9:18 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2025 | 9:55 AM
A file photo of Govindachamy and a recent image.
Synopsis: Govindachamy, the convict in the Soumya murder case, reportedly escaped from Kannur Central Jail. Prison officials discovered his absence only during routine checks. He had been serving a life sentence.
Govindachamy, the convict in the Soumya murder case, reportedly escaped from the high-security Kannur Central Jail, raising serious questions about security lapses.
Prison officials discovered his absence only during routine checks conducted on the morning of Friday, 25 July, sparking an intensive manhunt across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Govindachamy, originally from Tamil Nadu and known to have only one arm, had been serving a life sentence after the Supreme Court commuted his initial death penalty.
The escape from the high-security prison has stunned both authorities and the public, with officials struggling to piece together how a physically disabled inmate managed to escape. A large-scale search operation involving multiple police teams has been launched to locate him.
Govindachamy, who was in the 10th block of Jail, escaped by cutting the jail bars and climbing over the wall using a rope made from cloth. The jail officials are checking CCTV footage to find out how he escaped. They have also shared a new photo of him wearing a white shirt.
People have been asked to call 9446899506 if they see him or know anything about his location. Senior officials, including the Jail DGP, have reached the prison, and police are searching the area.
Govindachamy is a native of Virudachalam in Tamil Nadu and is also known as Charley Thomas. He also has other cases against him in Tamil Nadu, including theft.
Meanwhile, an internal investigation is underway to identify potential lapses in jail surveillance and protocol.
His conviction stems from the brutal attack on Soumya, a young woman who was assaulted on a moving passenger train on 1 February 2011.
She had boarded the women’s compartment on a train from Ernakulam to Shoranur, where she was attacked by Govindachamy, who then reportedly threw her off the train and later raped her.
Soumya succumbed to her injuries on 6 February 2011 at the Thrissur Medical College Hospital. The Thrissur Fast Track Special Court sentenced Govindachamy to death on 11 November 2011. However, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence in September 2016.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
