Seventeen Undertrials Escape Tamil Nadu Jail After Guard Attack

Seventeen undertrial inmates broke out of the Thekkampatti district jail in Theni on Monday night after assaulting a guard who entered their cell responding to a claimed medical emergency. The guard was attacked, allowing the prisoners to flee through the cell area. State police launched a statewide hunt that also covers the border with Kerala. Four of the escapees have been caught, officials said. Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari of the South Zone announced the formation of seventeen dedicated teams to locate the remaining thirteen fugitives. The break‑out ranks among the biggest in Tamil Nadu since a 1995 incident when forty‑three alleged LTTE members escaped from a special detention camp inside Vellore Fort via a tunnel about 153 feet long. The Thekkampatti facility, located near Andipatti, holds only undertrial detainees and is not a high‑security prison. Police have sealed the jail’s entrances and are checking nearby villages for clues. Families of the missing prisoners have been notified, and local authorities are coordinating with Kerala officials to prevent cross‑border movement.

Context

Large prison breakouts are rare in the state, making this incident notable. The 1995 LTTE escape remains the only larger event recorded in Tamil Nadu. Such incidents often prompt reviews of jail security protocols.