A man sentenced to life for a horrific rape and murder aboard a moving train in Kerala was recaptured on Friday morning, just hours after escaping from Kannur Central Prison. The fugitive, Govindachamy—also known as Charley Thomas—was found hiding inside a well on an abandoned property in the Thalappu region of Kannur.
Originally from Virudhachalam, Tamil Nadu, the 49-year-old is one of Kerala’s most infamous convicts. He was serving a life term for the 2011 rape and killing of a 23-year-old saleswoman travelling from Kochi to Shoranur. The victim had shifted to a general compartment at Vallathol Nagar station when Govindachamy boarded and committed the heinous act soon after. He was arrested soon after the incident and convicted.
On Friday morning, prison staff discovered he was missing from his cell, prompting a swift and intensive search operation. Despite being physically disabled and reliant on a crutch, Govindachamy managed to stay out of sight for several hours.
A local resident who joined the search informed reporters that he was found concealed inside a well on the vacant plot. Police acted quickly and took him into custody without incident.
Authorities have now initiated an internal inquiry into the security lapse at the high-security facility. A preliminary report is expected to be submitted to the state’s home department, as serious questions are being raised over prison monitoring and surveillance procedures