World · India Bureau
Nine jail staff suspended after 17 inmates escape from Tamil Nadu prison
Prison authorities in Tamil Nadu have suspended nine correctional staff following a mass breakout from Theni sub-jail. The escape, which involved inmates feigning illness before overpowering guards, has triggered a major manhunt across neighbouring districts.
LSN India ·
The Director General of Prisons, Sandeep Ray Rathod, ordered the suspension of nine jail personnel after 17 detainees fled Theni sub-jail in what officials say was a coordinated escape. According to preliminary investigations, the inmates staged a medical emergency to create confusion among guards before launching their breakout attempt.
The escape, which occurred despite security protocols at the facility, has prompted authorities to intensify search operations across adjacent districts. Prison officials have established checkpoints at key locations and deployed 17 specialized search teams to track down the fugitives.
The incident marks a significant security lapse at the jail facility and has raised questions about staff oversight and procedural compliance. Authorities have initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances that allowed the mass escape to occur.
The search operation remains ongoing, with inter-district coordination being maintained to locate and apprehend the escaped prisoners. Officials have urged the public to report any suspicious activity or sightings of the fugitives to local law enforcement authorities.