Tamil Nadu CM forms committee to overhaul prison security
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has appointed a panel to review jail security following the escape of 17 inmates from Theni district jail.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has constituted a high-level committee to review prison security across the state after 17 inmates escaped from Theni district jail on October 26. According to reports from Deccan Chronicle and South First, the committee will be led by retired IPS officer J K Tripathy and will recommend measures to prevent future jailbreaks.
The panel includes K Shankar, Additional Director General of Police and Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, and former Deputy Inspector General of Prisons S Rajendran. The committee is tasked with examining security infrastructure, manpower deployment, technological gaps, and standard operating procedures. The Chief Minister has directed that security be strengthened on a war footing using best practices from India and abroad.
The escape at Theni district jail occurred around 10 pm when inmates allegedly feigned a medical emergency involving an epileptic seizure. According to South First, prisoners overpowered a ward guard, seized the main entrance keys, and fled. At the time of the incident, the facility was housing 334 prisoners, which was 134 beyond its sanctioned capacity of 200.
In response to the lapses, the state has taken several disciplinary actions. ANI reported that Deputy Jail Superintendent N Ramalingam was suspended, and a total of 17 personnel have faced suspension or departmental inquiries. Additionally, the state government transferred Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore, the Director General of Police for prisons and correctional services.
Police have since recovered all 17 escaped inmates and are relocating them to high-security correctional facilities. The committee is expected to submit its report to the government at the earliest.