The Tamil Nadu Police have nabbed 4 inmates while a massive hunt is on for 13 others after they escaped Theni jail on Monday night, staging an epilepsy attack on one of the prisoners.
According to Southern Zone Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari, all 17 inmates were confined to the same barrack. The police said that they colluded to hatch an escape plan. As part of it, they informed the jail staff that one of the inmates had suffered an epileptic attack.
The jail staff rushed to the barracks. As they entered to help him, the inmates suddenly attacked them and overpowered them.
Subsequently, the inmates fled the jail. The altercation caused serious head injuries to Thangapandi, a Grade II police officer at the Theni District Jail. He was rushed to the G. Vilakku Government Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Two other jail officials on duty also sustained minor injuries.
The incident sent Theni and nearby districts, Madurai, Dindigul and Kerala's Idukki on high alert. Dindigul Superintendent of Police (SP) S. Jayakumar said checkpoints have been set up at 16 locations in the district for security reasons.
On the Dindigul-Theni Highway, police are conducting vehicle checks. To expand the combing and search efforts, photographs of all the absconding inmates have been shared with the nearby police stations.
A case has been registered in the matter, and the investigation is underway. The incident has also triggered a political row as the opposition DMK has called the incident 'utterly shameful', raising questions on the state's law and order.