CM Vijay suspends deputy jail superintendent over Theni jailbreak
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay ordered the suspension of an official and a state-wide reshuffle of prison administrators following the October 26 escape.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday ordered the suspension of N Ramalingam, the deputy jail superintendent in charge of Thekkampatti sub-jail. According to reports from Deccan Chronicle, Deccan Herald and Outlook, the action follows a jailbreak in Theni district on October 26.
The suspension was issued due to dereliction of duty and security lapses. The Chief Minister has also initiated a strategic reshuffle of top prison administrators across the state.
The incident involved 17 undertrial prisoners who managed to flee the sub-jail by pretending to have a medical emergency and taking control of the guards. All 17 inmates have since been recaptured.
Following their capture, five escapees appeared before a judicial magistrate on Tuesday and were remanded until November 10. Another group of eight appeared on Wednesday, with their custody extended to November 11.
The final two fugitives, identified as Tirupathi and Meenakshisundaram, were caught on Wednesday and are due in court on Thursday. Authorities plan to move the inmates to central prisons in Salem, Vellore, Cuddalore, and Puzhal once legal formalities are complete.