Chennai: Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay’s government has taken strict action in the case of escape of 17 prisoners from Theni district jail of Tamil Nadu. After negligence in jail security came to light, Deputy Superintendent N. Ramalingam has been dismissed from service, while 17 other employees have been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been ordered against them. The state government has made major changes in the jail administration and has also transferred many officers. After the incidents of prisoners escaping from two jails in Tamil Nadu within a week, the government has increased the strictness regarding the security arrangements of the jails.
Why was action taken against the Deputy Jail Superintendent?
According to ANI, N. Ramalingam has been posted in Theni District Jail since August 2024. He has been dismissed from service on charges of negligence in monitoring and security arrangements of the jail. Apart from this, a departmental inquiry has been initiated by suspending 17 employees. Chief Minister Vijay has given instructions to strengthen the security arrangements in all the jails of the state and make strict arrangements for monitoring. Earlier on Thursday, Director General of Police, Jail and Correctional Services, Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore was also transferred.
What method did the prisoners adopt to escape from jail?
Investigation revealed that prisoners in Theni District Jail had planned to escape on Monday night. For this he first tried to mislead the jail staff. A prisoner pretended to have an epileptic fit. Hearing that his health was deteriorating, security personnel opened the door of the barrack and entered. Meanwhile, the prisoners attacked the security guard and overpowered him. After this, he took the keys of the main door of the jail in his possession and opened the gate and escaped. After leaving the jail, all the prisoners ran away towards the surrounding forests.
Who helped the prisoners after their escape?
After leaving the jail, the absconding prisoners went towards Uthampalayam on a motorcycle from Aranjanaipudur area. On the way, at Ammachipuram, he contacted his colleagues by taking a mobile phone from a stranger. After this his associates provided him money, clothes and vehicles. The police is now also investigating which people present outside had helped them in planning the escape.
How was the operation conducted to capture prisoners?
Police launched a massive search operation to arrest the absconding prisoners. It included 17 special police teams, five special task force units and four battalions of Tamil Nadu Special Police. The help of special drones was also taken for searching in the dense forests.
According to the police, five prisoners were arrested and produced before the judicial magistrate on Tuesday evening. He was sent to judicial custody till 10 November. Eight other prisoners were caught on Wednesday and were sent to judicial custody till November 11. The remaining prisoners were also presented in the court on Thursday. Police confirmed that all 17 escaped prisoners have been re-arrested. Now the process of sending them to different high-security jails of the state has been started.
Were two prisoners also escaped from Puzhal jail?
Before the Theni jail incident, two prisoners had also escaped from Puzhal High Security Jail, located near Chennai, on October 20. Seven police teams were formed to search for him. Both were arrested after a two-day-long operation. Two incidents of escape from jails within a week have raised questions on the security arrangements of the state. Jail Minister R. Nirmal Kumar had also accepted the procedural flaws after these incidents. He had informed about the plan to increase CCTV surveillance in jails and strengthen the security system. Now a comprehensive review of the security arrangements is being done by the government along with action in the jail administration.
