Tamil Nadu forms committee to review prison security after Theni jailbreak
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has appointed a three-member panel to investigate security lapses following the escape of 17 inmates.
The Tamil Nadu government has established a three-member committee to evaluate prison security across the state after 17 inmates escaped from the Theni district jail on October 26. According to Urban Acres, the panel was formed following directions from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to strengthen systems and ensure accountability for negligence.
The committee will be led by former Director General of Police J K Tripathy, a 1985-batch IPS officer. Other members include the current Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services K Shankar and former prisons DIG S Rajendran, Urban Acres reported.
The mandate includes investigating the security failures at Theni and reviewing infrastructure, technology, manpower, and standard operating procedures. The panel has also been asked to study security practices in other states and abroad to recommend comprehensive measures, according to South First.
The jailbreak occurred around 10 pm when inmates allegedly feigned an epileptic seizure to overpower a ward guard. According to South First, the prisoners then attacked guards, 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 incident, Outlook reported that Chief Minister Vijay suspended Theni deputy jail superintendent N Ramalingam for administrative and security monitoring failures. Additionally, 17 personnel have faced suspension or departmental inquiries, and Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore, the director general of police for prisons and correctional services, was transferred on Thursday.
Police have since recaptured all 17 escaped inmates and are moving them to high-security correctional facilities across the state, according to PTI via Outlook.