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The escape of Govindachamy, a convicted rapist and murderer, from Kerala's Kannur Central Jail has exposed significant security vulnerabilities within the prison system. Govindachamy, infamous for his involvement in the 2011 Soumya case, was discovered missing from his cell early Friday morning.
The escape was reportedly executed by cutting through the iron bars of his high-security cell and scaling a 7.5-meter wall using a rope improvised from clothing. The discovery of a rope made from clothing dangling from the wall four hours after the escape raised immediate suspicion about the incident.
A statewide manhunt was launched, involving the Kerala police and authorities in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The search focused on railway stations, bus depots, and areas bordering Karnataka.
CCTV footage was examined near the prison in an attempt to piece together the escape route and time-line. After hours of searching, Govindachamy was apprehended hiding in a well located on an abandoned plot in Kannurs Thalappu area. A local resident assisted police in locating him. The incident has prompted intense scrutiny of Kannur Central Jail's security measures.
Reports suggest that the electric fence atop the prison wall may have been deactivated at the time of the escape, although this remains unconfirmed. The slow response time, with the escape only discovered four hours later, has also drawn significant criticism. Four prison authorities have been suspended pending the investigation.
