17 Prisoners Escape from Tamil Nadu Sub-Jail

Seventeen prisoners escaped from a sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district late on Monday night, triggering a major security alert. Police launched an extensive search operation from Theni to Dindigul, setting up checkpoints at around 16 locations. One of the escaped prisoners has been recaptured, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining inmates. Authorities suspect that the fugitives may have fled into the forest area behind the prison. Seventeen special teams have been formed to track them down, South Zone Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari said.

According to preliminary information, the escape was allegedly carried out after one prisoner pretended to faint to draw prison staff into their cell. When the personnel entered the room, the inmates reportedly attacked them and fled. The injured staff members were taken to a hospital for treatment. The incident is being described as one of Tamil Nadu’s biggest prison escapes since 1995, when 43 suspected LTTE militants escaped from a special detention centre at Vellore Fort through a 153-foot-long tunnel. The latest incident has raised serious concerns over prison security in the state.