Soumya case: Alertness shown by UDF govt was not seen in later stage

KOTTAYAM:  Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the alertness shown by the former UDF government in the Soumya case was not shown by the current LDF government, while handling the case. He was responding to the Supreme Court verdict cancelling the death penalty awarded to accused Govinda Chami by  lower courts.  

“The UDF government had handled the case with alertness. The government officials had met Soumya’s mother and discussed the case, before proceeding with it. After this, Advocate A Suresh was appointed as the Special Public prosecutor. During the trial that lasted for about seven months, the special public prosecutor and the police worked as a single entity. When Govindachamy had approached the apex court, pleading for cancelling the death sentence, Advocate Suresh was entrusted to assist the senior advocate in the Supreme Court.