World · South & Central Asia · 2 hrs ago
Four of 17 prisoners who escaped Theni jail have been recaptured
Seventeen prisoners escaped from a jail in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, late on Monday, October 26.
Police say some prisoners pretended one of them was having seizures so staff would come to help, then attacked prison personnel and fled.
Four escapees have been recaptured, leaving 13 still being sought.
A prison guard was injured and taken to hospital; two other people are also receiving treatment, according to a senior officer.
Police are searching across Tamil Nadu and nearby Kerala, including forest areas along the Western Ghats and in Idukki district.
Officers have shared the escapees’ pictures with teams in both states, and police are also investigating how the escape happened.
Authorities say they will conduct a full inquiry once the remaining prisoners are secured.
Seventeen remand prisoners escaped from Thekkampatti sub-jail in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district on Monday night after attacking prison staff.
Police said some inmates claimed that a prisoner was having seizures, prompting staff to open the cell.
Four of the escapees had been arrested, according to the Inspector General of Police.
Police formed 17 special teams and began combing operations to find the remaining prisoners.
- Who
- Seventeen remand prisoners escaped; police said four had been arrested.
- What
- The prisoners escaped after attacking prison staff.
- When
- Around 11 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Thekkampatti sub-jail near Andipatti in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Some prisoners reportedly claimed an inmate was having seizures to get staff to open the cell, then attacked them and escaped.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Some prisoners called a warder, claiming an inmate had suffered seizures and needed help.
Prisoners attacked staff and escaped from the sub-jail.
Police secured one escapee and arrested three others, according to the IGP.
Police said 17 special teams were conducting combing operations for the remaining escapees.
- Escapees
- 17 remand prisoners
- Prison
- Thekkampatti sub-jail
- Location
- Near Andipatti, Theni district
- Arrests
- Four, according to the IGP
- Search teams
- 17 special teams
4 sources
17 convicts escape Tamil Nadu jail after claiming one of them was suffering was epilepsy
Theni jailbreak: Kerala police alerted; combing operations going on in forest areas too, says officer
17 prisoners escape after attacking guard at Theni jail
What people are saying
One of those who escaped, identified as Praveen Kumar, was secured within a few hours and three other persons were also nabbed by the teams, taking the total arrest to four.
As many as 17 special teams have been formed.