Govindachamy. Onmanorama/File photoGovindachamy is arguably one of the most hated figures on Kerala’s crime records. The handicapped habitual offender from Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu was already facing several theft and mugging cases around Salem when he was caught by the Kerala Police for the rape and murder of Soumya in February 2011.
He had been on the train in which Soumya was traveling from Kochi to Shornur on February 1. He got into the train from Kochi. The 23-year-old salesgirl switched to a general compartment at Vallathol Nagar station. Govindachamy rushed in as the train was leaving the station. Soumya was alone in the coach.
Govindachamy was initially thought of as a vagabond who peddled on trains but an advocate stirred a hornet’s nest when he said that the accused was connected to a drug racket. The police chief ordered a probe into revelations that the accused had the backing of a mafia group based in Panvel near Mumbai.
The accused had served several rounds of prison sentences in Tamil Nadu. He had gone to Mumbai before he ended up as a peddler in Kerala.
