Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister suspends jail official after 17 prisoners escape
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay ordered the suspension of a deputy jail superintendent following a jailbreak at Thekkampatti sub-jail in Theni district.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has suspended N Ramalingam, the deputy jail superintendent in charge at Thekkampatti sub-jail, for dereliction of duty. According to the Deccan Chronicle, the suspension follows the escape of 17 prisoners from the Theni district facility on October 26.
The prisoners reportedly staged a fake medical emergency and overpowered guards before breaking free. While state police recaptured all escapees using drones and multi-agency operations, the government has initiated action against prison personnel for security lapses.
Vijay has directed the Prisons Department to take severe punitive measures against erring officials and ordered a strategic reshuffle of top prison administrators. As part of this overhaul, Superintendent of Madurai Central Prison R Krishnaraj has been immediately transferred.
The government has also appointed K Shankar as the new ADGP of Prisons and Correctional Services, following the transfer of Director General of Police (Prisons) Sandeep Rai Rathore to TANGEDCO as CVO.
The Prisons Department has launched a security audit across all prisons after two other incidents of undertrial prisoners escaping in recent days. This audit aims to identify vulnerabilities and may lead to strengthening infrastructure, such as arming personnel on watchtowers.