Govindachamy after he was caught from a well near a derelict building at Talap, Kannur, Kerala, on July 25, 2025. He had earlier escaped from the high-security Kannur Central Jail.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A probe by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons (North Zone) has confirmed grave lapses and dereliction of duty by officials at the Kannur Central Jail in Kerala in connection with the sensational escape of life sentence convict Govindachamy on July 25, 2025.
The findings submitted by DIG V. Jayakumar to Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Balaram Kumar Upadhyay underline systematic failures in surveillance, staffing and prison infrastructure in the Kannur jail.
The report states that the escape was made possible by “unnoticed moments” during a critical four-hour window from 1:15 am to 5 am and it revealed a “breakdown in prison oversight.”
The DIG also flagged the leaking of CCTV footage showing the escape as a serious breach of security, calling for a separate investigation.
“If CCTV surveillance had functioned properly, the jailbreak could have been thwarted,” the report notes.
The report points out acute staff shortage in the prison. Against a sanctioned strength of 150 assistant prison officers, only 106 are in place, with vacancies even at the Deputy Prison Officer level. It also points to failures in electrifying the fencing in front of the security wall, while multiple CCTV cameras inside and outside the jail remain non-functional.
The report further says the central jail, meant to house 943 inmates, is currently overcrowded with around 1,200 prisoners, adding to the strain on resources and security. The report also states that “it is a matter of great concern that 100 people are living in a place where 66 prisoners are supposed to stay in 66 cells in the high-security block 10.”
Another officer suspended
In the wake of the findings, on the recommendation of the DIG, assistant superintendent K.C. Rijoy, has been suspended. The move follows the suspension of three other officers on the day of the jailbreak.
Further action against more officials is under consideration based on the DIG’s recommendations, it has been learnt.
Published – July 29, 2025 11:56 am IST
