Theni jailbreak: Tamil Nadu Prisons Department Chief transferred

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Prisons Department DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore has been transferred following the escape of 17 inmates from the Theni District Jail. He has been appointed as the DGP of the Vigilance Wing and Chief Vigilance Officer of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO). K. Shankar, Additional DGP of the Enforcement Bureau-CID, has been appointed as the new head of the Prisons Department. He will also be in charge of the Prisons and Correctional Services Department.

The incident took place on Monday night, October 26, when 17 inmates escaped from the Thekkampatti prison near Andipatti in Theni district. According to reports, one of the inmates pretended to suffer an epileptic seizure. When prison staff rushed to help him, the other inmates overpowered them and escaped. Sandeep Rai Rathore had earlier acknowledged security lapses at the prison and ordered an inquiry into the failure of security arrangements.

Reports also said that nine prison staff members had been suspended in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, police have arrested all 17 inmates who escaped from the prison following an intensive search operation. Special teams were deployed and drones were also used to track down the escapees.