Govindachamy, the convict in the sensational Soumya rape and murder case, was captured within Kannur city after his daring escape from Kannur Central Jail earlier today.
The arrest took place in the Thalapp area, near the Kannur District Congress Committee office, after locals spotted a suspicious man matching Govindachamy’s appearance—wearing a checked shirt, dark trousers, and carrying a bundle in his hand. Acting on the tip-off, a police team raided a nearby house and apprehended the fugitive.
The search was intensified after a sniffer dog, tracking the scent from his jail pillow, led officers toward Thalapp, narrowing down the area. His escape had raised alarms across the state, particularly because he managed it using tied-together bedsheets to scale the high-security prison wall, despite having only one functional arm.
Govindachamy had fled from Block 10 of the prison around 1:15 AM, and his absence was discovered during the 7:00 AM inspection. His escape triggered an immediate and widespread manhunt involving vehicle checks, CCTV surveillance, and local patrols.
A native of Tamil Nadu, Govindachamy was convicted for the 2011 assault and murder of 23-year-old Soumya, a case that shocked the nation. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment.
With his re-arrest, authorities have breathed a sigh of relief—but the dramatic escape has spotlighted serious lapses in Kerala’s prison security systems.
