Govindachamy jailbreak: How amputee rape-murder convict scaled 25-ft wall of Kerala’s top prison

In a dramatic climax to a high-stakes manhunt, escaped rape-murder convict Govindachamy was pulled out of a well by Kerala Police — bringing his brief escape from Kannur Central Jail to an abrupt end.

The one-armed convict had fled the high-security prison in the early hours of Friday. Less than 10 hours later, he was tracked down near an abandoned building, where he made a desperate attempt to evade capture by jumping into a nearby well.

A one-armed fugitive in disguise

Govindachamy, who was not in prison uniform, attempted to conceal his amputated arm by tucking it into his trouser pocket — a move that failed to fool alert locals. His physical profile, captured on CCTV and shared widely, helped both the public and police zero in on his whereabouts.

Alert locals, fast police work

The manhunt concluded swiftly thanks to vigilant residents who tipped off authorities. A sniffer dog followed his trail nearly 2km from the prison. The Kerala Police, assisted by local volunteers, pulled him out of the well on live television, ending a jailbreak that had gripped public attention. 

Who is Govindachamy?

Govindachamy is a physically disabled habitual offender from Virudhachalam, Tamil Nadu, with a criminal history involving theft and mugging.

His name became infamous after his conviction in the 2011 rape and murder of 23-year-old Soumya — a case that shocked Kerala and triggered widespread demands for justice and women’s safety reforms.

The 2011 crime that shocked Kerala

On 1 February 2011, Soumya, a sales assistant from Kochi, was travelling alone in the women’s coach of a passenger train when Govindachamy attacked her. He pushed her from the moving train near Vallathol Nagar and later raped her after jumping off himself. Soumya succumbed to her injuries days later at Thrissur Medical College.

How an amputee scaled a 25-foot prison wall

Despite having only one hand, Govindachamy managed to saw through the iron bars of his high-security cell and scaled a 25-foot compound wall using a rope made of knotted prison clothes. The wall was topped with an electric fence — which authorities now suspect was deactivated during the escape.

The jailbreak unfolded under cover of darkness

The escape reportedly took place around 1:15 am, during a suspected power outage. Jail staff only noticed the rope during early morning rounds. His absence was confirmed during the 7:00 am headcount — a major security lapse now under official scrutiny.

How he was caught: Hiding in a well

Govindachamy was found hiding inside a well near a locked, bush-covered house not far from the jail. Two locals identified him and informed the police. With sniffer dogs aiding the search, police arrested him around 10:30 a.m. Angry residents helped extract him from the well — some even slapped him during the arrest.

Public outrage and claims of a conspiracy

Soumya’s mother expressed deep disappointment, calling the jailbreak “unthinkable” in a high-security facility. She blamed systemic failures and questioned why the Supreme Court had commuted his original death sentence.

Former BJP state president K. Surendran alleged that the escape was not spontaneous but facilitated, hinting at political interference. He claimed Govindachamy’s breakout raises serious questions about the jail’s internal workings and oversight.

Security failures under spotlight

Initial reports suggest Govindachamy used blankets or prison clothing to make a rope and possibly cut through bars. The suspected power cut, non-functional electric fencing, and delayed reporting of the escape point to serious lapses in protocol, prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team.

Legal timeline: From death sentence to life imprisonment

• Feb 2011: Soumya attacked on train; later dies in hospital

• 2012: Death sentence awarded by Thrissur Fast Track Court

• 2013: Kerala High Court upholds death sentence

• 2016: Supreme Court commutes death sentence, drops murder charge

• 2017: SC dismisses review petitions; life sentence upheld

• July 2025: Govindachamy escapes; arrested within hours

What’s next?

A full-scale probe is underway. CCTV footage is being reviewed and prison security protocols reassessed. The dramatic jailbreak has triggered renewed calls for tighter prison oversight, stricter monitoring of high-risk inmates, and judicial accountability in high-profile criminal cases.

 - With inputs from IANS, ANI