Published Oct 28, 2026 | 7:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2026 | 7:14 PM
All 17 inmates who escaped from the prison have been caught and returned to jail.
Two more prisoners, who had been on the run after escaping from Theni District Jail earlier this week, were arrested by the police on Wednesday, October 28, after days of combing operations.
With the arrest of the two, all 17 inmates who escaped from the prison have been caught and returned to jail.
The prisoners, brothers Tirupathi and Kalyana Sundaram, were nabbed from the Theni surroundings. Their arrest came hours after two other prisoners identified as Ponmuthu Selvam and Regin were nabbed by the police.
According to police, 13 of the 17 escapees were arrested within 24 hours of the prison break, while the remaining four were nabbed on Wednesday. The search operation, involving 17 special teams, was conducted under the direction of DGP Dr Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.
Also Read: Theni jailbreak: Retired warden flags night security gaps after 17 inmates escape
The jailbreak, one of the largest in decades, took place on the night of October 26.
According to police, Theni District Jail, which has been functioning at Thekkampatti since January 10, 2019, has a sanctioned capacity of 200 inmates. However, 334 prisoners were lodged in the facility on October 26, meaning the jail was housing 134 inmates beyond its authorised capacity and operating at approximately 167% of its sanctioned capacity.
The incident occurred at around 10 pm, when some prisoners raised an alarm claiming that an inmate in the third block was experiencing an epileptic seizure.
Stalin Prabhu, a Grade II police constable (No. 15) serving as the ward guard for the third block, entered to check whether the inmate required medical attention. The prisoners allegedly attacked and overpowered him before attempting to escape.
Guards deployed at the main entrance initially attempted to prevent the prisoners from fleeing. However, the inmates allegedly attacked the guards, seized the keys, opened the main entrance and escaped from the jail.
Tamil Nadu Prisons Director General of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore ordered the suspension of nine prison personnel in connection with the incident, citing dereliction of duty. A detailed investigation into the security lapse was also ordered.
A case has been registered at the Kandamanur Police Station in connection with the incident, under Sections 121(1), 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 309(4), 109, 262 and 353(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
