Seventeen undertrial inmates managed to escape from Thekkampatti sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district.
Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Vijayendra Bidari said 17 specialised teams had been formed to track down the escapees. Police have launched a multi-district manhunt, setting up 16 check posts across Dindigul district to intercept the fugitives. Of the 16 inmates who remained at large after the first arrest, 11 were from Madurai district.
Three prison personnel were injured in the incident. Grade II Police Constable Thangapandi suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to the Government Hospital at G Vilakku. Two other personnel sustained minor injuries. Of the four inmates arrested so far, Praveen Kumar was the first to be caught. Photographs and identification details of the escapees have been circulated among police teams in Madurai, Dindigul and Kerala’s Idukki district. Police are continuing search operations, while an investigation into the jailbreak and the security lapse is underway.
The other three, identified as Silambarasan of Theni and Raja Sikandar and Rajkumar of Madurai, were arrested during search operations on Tuesday.