Two more prisoners recaptured after Tamil Nadu jailbreak
Police have taken 15 escapees back into custody, while two undertrials remain at large following the Theni district jail incident.
Police recaptured two more prisoners who escaped from a jail in Tamil Nadu's Theni district late on Monday, according to The Indian Express. The arrests of Ponmuthu Selvam and Regin on Wednesday brought the total number of prisoners back in custody to 15, while two undertrials are still at large.
The escape occurred on Monday night after an inmate appeared to have an epileptic fit. When a guard entered the cell to assist, inmates allegedly attacked him, causing a head injury. Seventeen prisoners then fled through the main entrance.
Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Sandeep Rai Rathore, said watchtower personnel are now authorised to use self-loading rifles to prevent jailbreaks or respond to attacks. This armed deployment began at central prisons on Tuesday and was extended to district jails on Wednesday, covering nine central prisons, five special prisons for women, and 13 district jails.
Rathore stated that priority will be given to separating hardened criminals from first-time offenders and ensuring gang members are not housed together. He noted that five prisoners linked to a Madurai district crime were lodged in the same ward at Theni and played a role in the escape.
Nine prison staff members have been suspended following the incident, which resulted in injuries to three guards. Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Vijayendra Bidari, said 17 teams are involved in the search, which includes combing forest areas near the Kerala border.