Govindachamy's Jailbreak Exposes Systemic Failure at Kannur Prison

Authorities shy away from head count as many inmates politically connected, say sources

- SHAN A S @T'Puram

RAPE and murder convict Govindachamy's jailbreak from the Kannur central prison has brought to fore the fear many have harboured for some time. Of systemic breakdown, owing to a myriad reasons, most noticeable being the over-politicisation of prison management.

Insiders told TNIE that the day Govindachamy escaped, the system was a total shambles. So much so, even after the lockup officer counted the number of inmates in the prison block where Govindachamy stayed, it did not come to the notice of the authorities that an inmate was missing.