17 inmates escape Theni sub-jail in Tamil Nadu; 4 caught, 13 missing

The escape triggered a statewide manhunt, with special teams deployed to trace the fugitives.

MADURAI: Police have arrested four of the 17 inmates who escaped from Thekkampatti sub-jail in Theni district on Monday after faking seizures and attacking prison guards who rushed to help them.Three escapees, identified as Silambarasan of Theni, Raja Sikandar and Rajkumar, both from Madurai, were arrested during search operations on Tuesday.Earlier, police had apprehended Praveen Kumar, the first inmate to be caught following the jailbreak.The escape triggered a statewide manhunt, with special teams deployed to trace the fugitives.Thirteen inmates remain at large.According to preliminary investigations, some inmates pretended to suffer epileptic seizures and attacked prison personnel when they approached to provide assistance.The inmates subsequently fled the prison.Theni district police have released photographs and residential details of the escapees, seeking public assistance in tracing them.

Of the 16 inmates initially listed as absconding after the first arrest, 11 were from Madurai district.