MADURAI: Faking epileptic seizures to lure prison staff into opening their cell and then attacking the guards who came to help was allegedly how 17 undertrial inmates escaped from Thekkampatti sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district on late Monday night.
Four of the escapees have been rearrested, while 13 remain at large.
According to preliminary investigations, some inmates pretended to suffer seizures, prompting prison personnel to approach their cell to assist them.
As soon as the guards opened the cell, the inmates allegedly launched an attack on them before fleeing the premises.
Three prison personnel were injured in the incident. Grade II Police Constable Thangapandi suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to the Government Hospital at G Vilakku. Two other personnel sustained minor injuries.
Of the four inmates arrested so far, Praveen Kumar was the first to be caught. The other three, identified as Silambarasan of Theni and Raja Sikandar and Rajkumar of Madurai, were arrested during search operations on Tuesday.
Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Vijayendra Bidari said 17 specialised teams had been formed to track down the escapees.
Police have launched a multi-district manhunt, setting up 16 check posts across Dindigul district to intercept the fugitives.
Photographs and identification details of the escapees have been circulated among police teams in Madurai, Dindigul and Kerala’s Idukki district.
Of the 16 inmates who remained at large after the first arrest, 11 were from Madurai district. Police are continuing search operations, while an investigation into the jailbreak and the security lapse is underway.