Madurai, Oct 29:
All 17 inmates who escaped from Theni District Jail on Monday night after allegedly assaulting three prison staff have been recaptured, with police arresting the last four fugitives on Wednesday. The successful operation brought an end to a search that involved extensive deployment of personnel across the district.
Investigators suspect that the inmates staged a medical emergency to execute their escape plan. One of them allegedly pretended to suffer an epileptic seizure, prompting prison staff to respond. The inmates then allegedly overpowered and assaulted three personnel before escaping from the facility.
Around 100 police personnel intensified the search in the Amachiyapuram hills on Wednesday morning to trace the four remaining fugitives â Rejin from Kanyakumari and Tirupathi, Meenatchisundram and Ponmuthuselvam from Madurai.
Police first apprehended Rejin and Ponmuthuselvam in the hills. The other two inmates, brothers Tirupathi and Meenatchisundram, allegedly fled after learning that police had entered the area where they were hiding.
The brothers reportedly assaulted a motorist, snatched his motorcycle and escaped. Police alerted checkpoints across the district and eventually tracked them down near Uthamapalayam on Wednesday evening.
Investigators are examining whether the inmates had planned the escape to carry out a murder or robbery. Police are also expected to investigate the sequence of events inside the prison and the alleged security lapses that enabled all 17 inmates to escape.
The first five inmates arrested were produced before the Theni Judicial Magistrate on Tuesday evening and remanded in judicial custody until November 10. Eight others were produced before the court on Wednesday and remanded until November 12. The four inmates arrested last were questioned at Allinagaram police station and were expected to be remanded on Thursday.
Meanwhile, prison authorities have stepped up security at Theni District Jail. Director General of Prisons Sandeep Rai Rathore inspected the facility following the escape and suspended nine prison personnel for alleged dereliction of duty.
Nine prison personnel have been deputed to strengthen security at the jail. Armed guards have been posted at two watchtowers near the entrance, and officials said the lapses that enabled the escape had been addressed.
Authorities have also begun transferring the recaptured inmates to other prisons across Tamil Nadu. Three had been shifted to Palayamkottai Central Prison, with further transfers planned.
Security has been tightened in prisons across the State following the Theni jailbreak and a separate incident involving the escape of two inmates from Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai. Armed police personnel have been deployed, and watchtowers are being used to monitor prisoner movements and prevent further escapes.
The incident has raised questions about prison security, staff preparedness and the effectiveness of surveillance arrangements. Investigators are expected to examine whether the escape involved advance planning and whether any further action is required against personnel responsible for security at the jail.