CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered the suspension of a deputy jailor in charge of Thekkampatti sub-jail and initiated disciplinary action against prison officials following the escape of 17 prisoners in Theni district on October 26. All 17 escapees were subsequently recaptured.N Nageswaran, deputy jailor who had been holding additional charge of the sub-jail since August 6, 2024, was suspended with effect from October 30. The suspension order, issued under the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, cited lapses in supervision and failure to maintain adequate vigilance over inmates and prison staff. The suspension will remain in force until further orders.The jailbreak occurred on the night of October 26, when 17 remand prisoners allegedly staged a medical emergency, overpowered prison guards and escaped from the facility. Police launched a search operation to track them down. Drones were used to locate eight escapees hiding in thick vegetation away from the prison, and all 17 were eventually apprehended and returned to custody.Taking serious note of the security breach, the state government has also ordered changes in the prison administration. R Krishnaraj, who was serving as superintendent of Madurai Central Prison, has been transferred to Salem Central Prison in the same capacity.Earlier, the government transferred Director General of Police (Prisons) Sandeep Rai Rathore to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) as chief vigilance officer. K Shankar has been appointed the new additional director general of police for Prisons and Correctional Services.Vijay directed prison officials to discharge their duties with diligence and maintain strict security at correctional facilities. The government made it clear that negligence, lack of vigilance and lapses in the discharge of official responsibilities would invite stringent disciplinary action.The latest measures are part of the state government’s response to the jailbreak, which exposed security and supervision lapses at the sub-jail.(With PTI iputs)
