Theni, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A manhunt is underway in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district after 17 prisoners allegedly attacked prison guards and escaped from the Thekkampatti district jail near Andipatti on Monday night. Police had recaptured four of them by Tuesday morning, while 13 remained at large.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the escape was facilitated by a prisoner pretending to suffer a seizure. When guards entered the enclosure to provide first aid, the inmates allegedly assaulted them before fleeing the facility.
One guard sustained injuries in the attack and was admitted to a hospital. His condition was not immediately known.
The breakout took place at around 10 pm on Monday. Theni Superintendent of Police Praveen Gautham reached the jail after receiving information about the incident, while Southern Zone Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari visited the facility and questioned personnel.
Bidari said police received information about the escape at around 10.20 pm. Seventeen special teams were formed to trace the fugitives, with searches and vehicle checks intensified across the district.
The first escapee to be recaptured was Praveen, a resident of Perungudi in Madurai district, who was found in a forested area near the jail. Police said his questioning provided information about the alleged seizure ruse used to distract the guards.
Silambarasan, from Devaram in Theni district, was subsequently apprehended on Tuesday morning. Two other escapees, identified as Rajkumar and Raja Sikandar, were also caught, taking the total number recaptured to four.
Police deployed sniffer dogs and expanded search operations around the prison and across the district. Investigators are examining how the inmates coordinated the alleged assault and escaped from the premises.
The Thekkampatti jail houses undertrial prisoners from Theni, Madurai, Dindigul and other areas. Most of those who escaped were reportedly undertrials from Madurai district, while three were said to face detention proceedings under the Goondas Act.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of security arrangements at the facility as police continue efforts to apprehend the remaining prisoners.
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