17 Inmates Escape from Tamil Nadu Jail After Alleged Fake Epileptic Seizure; Manhunt Underway

A suspected fake epileptic seizure allegedly triggered one of Tamil Nadu’s biggest prison escapes in decades, after 17 inmates reportedly overpowered a guard and fled through the main gate of Thekkampatti jail in Theni district late Monday.

Police recaptured four of the escapees, while a statewide manhunt was launched to trace the remaining prisoners. Security checks were intensified across neighbouring districts and along routes leading to Kerala amid fears that some fugitives might attempt to cross the state border.

The incident ranks among Tamil Nadu’s largest prison escapes since 1995, when 43 suspected LTTE militants escaped from a special detention camp inside Vellore Fort through a tunnel measuring approximately 153 feet (47 metres).

17 Special Teams Formed to Trace Escapees

Vijayendra Bidari, Inspector General of Police, South Zone, said 17 special teams had been formed to track down the remaining fugitives. Theni Superintendent of Police K S Praveen Gowtham visited the prison following the incident.

Police personnel searched areas surrounding the jail, including wooded stretches and railway tracks. Vehicle inspections were intensified across Theni and neighbouring districts, while checkpoints were established on routes leading to Kerala.

Authorities paid particular attention to the Kumily, Cumbum Mettu and Bodimettu routes, which connect parts of Tamil Nadu with Kerala.

Police in Kerala’s Idukki district, along with officials in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai and Dindigul districts, were alerted. Photographs of the escaped inmates were circulated among police personnel to help identify and apprehend them.

In Dindigul, Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar said checkpoints had been established at 16 locations. Vehicle checks were also conducted in Villupuram and other parts of Tamil Nadu as the search widened.

How the Inmates Allegedly Escaped

According to the police, all 17 inmates were housed in the same cell when one of them complained of an epileptic episode late Monday.

When prison personnel entered the cell to respond to the apparent medical emergency, the inmates allegedly attacked them and made their escape through the prison’s main entrance.

The injured guard, identified as Thangapandi, sustained a head injury and was admitted to the Government Hospital at G Vilakku. Two other prison personnel reportedly suffered minor injuries.

Investigators are examining whether the reported seizure was deliberately staged to draw prison staff into the cell and create an opportunity for the escape.

The circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the inmates managed to reach the main gate and leave the facility, are now central to the investigation.

Police Probe Possible Security Lapses

The Kandamanur police registered a case and began investigating the circumstances of the escape. Senior police and prison officials are examining the sequence of events and whether any security lapses contributed to the incident.

The specific charges under which the 17 inmates had been detained were not immediately available.

Thekkampatti prison houses more than 500 inmates from several districts, making the escape a significant security concern for the state’s prison administration.

Police said efforts to locate the remaining fugitives were continuing, with surveillance and vehicle checks maintained across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala.

The investigation will focus on how the inmates coordinated their escape, whether the alleged medical emergency was fabricated and what measures are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.