Tamil Nadu transfers DGP-prisons after two jailbreaks in a week

Tamil Nadu government on Thursday transferred Director General of Police - prisons and correctional services, Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore following the two jailbreaks that occurred over the last one week in the State.

Rathore has been posted as the DGP-chief vigilance officer in the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (TANGEDCO).

Meanwhile, K Shankar, the additional director general of police, Enforcement Bureau, CID, will be succeeding Rathore on the new role, an order issued by the Home department principal secretary A Karthik said on Thursday.

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Two jail breaks led to transfers

Two convicts lodged in the Central Prison on October 20 fled the highly secured prison at Puzhal near Chennai. The police department formed seven teams to nab the escaped convicts. After two days of search, the prisoners were nabbed.

In another incident, as many as 17 prisoners escaped from the district jail in Theni on the night of October 26. The convicts claimed that one of them suffered an epilepsy and required medical assistance. They overpowered jail warder and other security guards before fleeing from the jail.

As many as 17 special police teams were formed to nab the prisoners.

All the escaped convicts were recaptured on October 28. Nine jail staff were suspended for the security lapse that sparked strong reactions from political parties across Tamil Nadu over the incident.