THRISSUR : A one-handed beggar who pushed a woman passenger returning from work out of a passenger train at night when she resisted molestation and subsequently raped and killed her while she was lying injured near the railway track was awarded death sentence by a fast track court here on Friday.

The beggar, 30-year-old Govindachamy from Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu, assaulted 23-year-old Soumya, who was travelling in an empty ladies’ compartment of Kochi-Shornur passenger on the way home after her work as a sales girl at a mall in Kochi on February 1st this year. When Soumya resisted the rape attempt, the beggar pushed her out of the moving train near Vallathol Nagar station. The beggar jumped out along with girl and raped her while she was lying injured near the railway track. Soumya was found lying unconscious near the railway track and was moved to a hospital later, but succumbed to injuries on February 6th.

Govindachamy was found guilty of rape and murder by the special court judge, KN Raveendra Babu, on October 31. The prosecution had demanded for maximum punishment and had produced documented evidence before the court that Govindachamy was a habitual offender and has been convicted in eight cases in Tamil Nadu from 2004 to 2008.

In addition to the brutality of the rape and murder, the case also garnered media attention by the appearance of a prominent criminal lawyer, B A Aloor, to defend the beggar, with the lawyer subsequently revealing that a network of criminals from Tamil Nadu with links to Mumbai underground activities engaged him to defend Govindachamy, who was until then perceived to be a one-handed mentally-deranged beggar. 'A tea and vadai please'

“Could you arrange a tea and vadai for me,” was the first sentence uttered by Govindachamy after the Thrissur Fast Track court sentenced him for capital punishment in the sensational Soumya murder case on Friday. Brought to the court at 10.30am, Govindachamy remained indifferent throughout the court proceedings. He asked for a ‘small punishment’ with the help of a Tamil translator to the judge K N Raveendra Babu before the court pronounced the verdict.

As soon as the verdict was announced, the authorities requested everyone present inside the court to vacate the hall to ensure security to Govindachamy. It was then that he asked a nearby policeman for a tea and vadai. The judge was about to leave the chamber and asked the policeman what he was asking for.

The judge later directed the police to arrange tea and vadai for the sentenced. Thrissur West Police Station civil officer Santhosh brought the tea and snacks before he was taken out of the court and sent to Kannur central prison .