13 of 17 inmates recaptured after Theni jailbreak, nine prison staff suspended

Police have recaptured 13 of the 17 prisoners who escaped from a jail in Tamil Nadu's Theni district after allegedly staging a medical emergency and overpowering prison guards, while nine prison personnel have been suspended over lapses in duty, officials said on Tuesday.

The prisoners escaped from the Thekkampatti sub-jail near Andipatti late Monday night after claiming that one of the inmates was suffering from an epileptic seizure. When prison personnel entered the cell to provide assistance, the inmates allegedly attacked them, snatched the keys and fled through the main entrance.

The incident triggered a massive search operation involving police teams, drone surveillance and intensified checks across neighbouring districts and areas bordering Kerala. Four prisoners remained at large as of Tuesday evening.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆

According to the prison department, the incident occurred around 10 pm on October 26 when inmates in the third block raised an alarm, claiming that one of their fellow prisoners was experiencing an epileptic seizure.

Grade II Warder Stalin Prabhu entered the cell to check on the prisoner, but the inmates allegedly overpowered him and other guards before escaping.

The prisoners reportedly assaulted prison personnel and seized the keys to the main entrance. Prabhu sustained injuries and was admitted to a government hospital, where his condition was reported to be stable.

Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Vijayendra S Bidari said the prisoners appeared to have staged the medical emergency to facilitate their escape.

The jail, which began functioning on January 10, 2019, has a sanctioned capacity of 200 inmates but was housing 334 prisoners at the time of the incident.

𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗲𝘀

Police launched an extensive manhunt, deploying special teams to search forested areas surrounding the prison and nearby districts.

Drones helped investigators locate several fugitives hiding in the forests behind the jail. Eight prisoners were subsequently apprehended during intensified operations, taking the total number recaptured to 13.

In one unusual incident, a prisoner who had escaped in an autorickshaw was intercepted by a police head constable riding a two-wheeler. The officer identified the fugitive and instructed the driver to take him directly back to prison.

Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal also contacted his Kerala counterpart, R A Chandrasekhar, seeking heightened vigilance in districts along the interstate border.

Police strengthened vehicle inspections, checks at lodges and surveillance at temporary checkpoints across the region.

𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗷𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services) Sandeep Rai Rathore visited the prison along with senior officials to review the security breach.

Nine prison personnel were placed under suspension for alleged dereliction of duty following the escape.

Senior officials are examining whether the incident resulted from procedural failures or possible collusion, while an inquiry has been initiated into the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak.

Police have registered cases against the escaped prisoners under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including offences relating to assault on public servants.

𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝘁

The jailbreak sparked a political controversy, with Opposition parties accusing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of failing to maintain prison security.

Former Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin criticised the government, drawing a comparison between the jailbreak and the television series Prison Break.

He pointed out that the Theni incident followed the escape of two prisoners from the high-security Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai earlier this month.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also questioned the state government's handling of prison security, referring to Vijay's earlier inspection of a central prison near Chennai.

The BJP described the incident as a serious security failure and demanded accountability.

𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀

Police said the search for the remaining four fugitives was continuing, with teams conducting operations in Theni, Madurai, Dindigul and adjoining areas.

Security has also been strengthened at prisons across Tamil Nadu, while investigators are examining the backgrounds and possible contacts of the escaped inmates.

Authorities have urged residents to share any information that could help locate the remaining prisoners as the investigation into the security breach continues.