THENI (Tamil Nadu): A massive manhunt is currently under way across southern India after a violent, coordinated prison break saw 17 undertrial inmates overpower guards and escape from the Theni sub-jail late Monday night. Authorities have launched an intensive multi-district combing operation, leading to the swift recapture of five escapees so far.
In response to the security breach, Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Vijayendra Bidari announced the formation of 17 specialised tracking teams to hunt down the fleeing fugitives. “Four of the 17 undertrial prisoners who escaped from the Theni sub-jail have been arrested during combing operations,” IGP Bidari confirmed on Tuesday.
The dramatic escape unfolded when jail staff responded to a distress call claiming a prisoner inside a shared cell was unwell. The moment guards opened the door, all 17 inmates inside launched a sudden attack, assaulting the personnel before fleeing the premises into the night.
#WATCH | Theni, Tamil Nadu: Police intensifiy the search for escaped undertrial prisoners from Tamil Nadu’s Theni sub-jail.
Security personnel conducting intensive checks at bus stands across the Kavi Vilakku area following the jailbreak. https://t.co/Egie8zXP7v
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026
Three prison personnel were injured during the melee. Grade II Police Constable Thangapandi suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to the Government Hospital at G Vilakku, while two other officers sustained minor injuries.
Security has been escalated across neighbouring regions to prevent the remaining 13 inmates from fleeing further. Dindigul Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar confirmed that 16 strategic check posts have been established across the Dindigul district to intercept escapees.
Mugshots and identification profiles of the fugitives have been dispatched to law enforcement teams in Madurai, Dindigul, and the neighbouring border district of Idukki in Kerala. Police forces have blanketed key transit routes, conducting thorough vehicle checks throughout the region.
A formal case has been registered, and a high-level investigation into the security lapse is actively underway as law enforcement agencies continue round-the-clock search efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitives.
Police have also intensified the search for escaped undertrial prisoners from Tamil Nadu’s Theni sub-jail, deploying drones and conducting intensive checks at bus stands across the Kavi Vilakku area following the jailbreak. As part of the ongoing operation, police personnel are checking bus stands and monitoring movement in the area to trace the remaining fugitives.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Security teams conduct intensive vehicle checking following the incident where 17 inmates have escaped from the Theni sub-jail. 17 special teams have been formed to track down and apprehend the escaped prisoners.
One escaped prisoner has been arrested by police during combing operations: Inspector General of Police (IGP), South Zone, Vijayendra Bidari
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2026
A total of 17 undertrial prisoners escaped from Theni sub-jail on the night of October 26–27. One of the escapees was arrested earlier, following which an official press note listed 16 prisoners as still at large. Police have now arrested four more inmates during combing operations, taking the total number of arrested escapees to five, while 12 remain at large.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Prisons Director General of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore arrived at Madurai Airport from Chennai on Tuesday to investigate the jailbreak. Rathore subsequently left for Theni sub-jail to conduct an on-site investigation and examine the circumstances surrounding the escape.
The jailbreak has triggered intensified search operations, with authorities stepping up efforts to trace the fugitives. The escape triggered a major manhunt across southern Tamil Nadu, with police teams conducting combing operations and vehicle checks to track down the fugitives.
Theni District Police has released the particulars of 16 escaped prisoners. They are Karuppasamy (alias) Mathan, Tharun Kumar, Rajkumar, Pandiselvam, Thiruppathi, Ponmuthuchelvan, Meenakshi Sundaram, Sabarinathan, Rejin, Nisanth, Muthu Ilangovan, Karthik Raja, Prasanth (alias) Linga Prasath, Raja Sikkandar, Silambarasan and Solai Mugilaeswaran. Police have appealed to the public to share any information with the Theni District Special Branch Office (9498101570) or the Theni District Police Control Room (9176104100).
Security has also been tightened across neighbouring districts. Dindigul Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar confirmed that check posts had been established at 16 locations in the district. Photographs of the fugitives have been circulated among police teams in Madurai, Dindigul and Idukki in neighbouring Kerala, with vehicle checks underway on key routes. A case has been registered, and an investigation into the security lapse is under way. (ANI)
