Opposition parties target the TVK government as police search forests for escapees; four have been re-arrested so far
Chennai: DMK chief MK Stalin has stepped up his attack on Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK after 17 undertrial prisoners escaped from the Thekkampatti Sub-Jail in Theni district on Monday. The escape has put the state’s prison system under pressure, coming just days after two prisoners fled Puzhal prison near Chennai.
Stalin’s “Prison Break” Attack
Stalin, a former chief minister, had already called the TVK a “breaking bad party” on Saturday. That remark came after one of its functionaries was arrested in connection with a major drug seizure. On Tuesday, he built on the joke with a new one.
“Following Breaking Bad, a Prison Break has now begun in Tamil Nadu!” he posted. He said he had thought only people released on bail went unmonitored, but now it seemed the administration “even lets prisoners escape from within the jails.”
He added that this was reportedly the largest escape at one time since 1995, and that it was unacceptable in 2026, when security and surveillance systems should be advanced. He called the Vijay government “good for nothing.” The Home Department comes directly under Chief Minister Vijay.
Other Opposition Voices
DMK’s TKS Elangovan took a sharper dig, asking whether the escaped prisoners were “fans of Vijay” or belonged to the TVK.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami also expressed shock and said the government had failed to act after the Puzhal escape. “If prisoners can attack police personnel and escape from a prison, what security can ordinary people expect on the streets?” he asked.
AIADMK MP R Inbadurai called the incident a “colossal security lapse” and demanded accountability.
How Did They Escape?
According to preliminary information, at least one undertrial allegedly pretended to have an epileptic seizure. When prison staff opened the cell door to help, the other inmates ambushed and overpowered them.
The Search
Police have re-arrested four of the escapees, and the hunt for the other 13 continues. South Zone Inspector General of Police Bidari told NDTV that intensive combing operations are underway in the forested area. “We are confident we will secure all of them,” he said.
Police suspect the remaining prisoners may be hiding in the Theni forest. Authorities have taken these steps:
- Special teams are searching the difficult terrain.
- Checkposts have been set up at 16 points to stop the escapees from leaving the area.
- Special checks are being carried out at local bus stands.
- Drones are being used in the search.
Tamil Nadu Prisons Director General of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore has travelled from Chennai to Madurai to investigate the jailbreak.
What Next?
The escape adds to the political pressure on the Vijay government over law and order. Whether the government will respond to the opposition’s attacks, or announce action against jail officials, is not yet clear. At the time of writing, no official response from the TVK or the state government to Stalin’s remarks was available.
