Tamil Nadu: Several sub-jails closed and inmates moved to nearby prisons
The prison department has temporarily shut at least sixteen sub-jails across the state following a series of jailbreaks, according to The New Indian Express.
The Tamil Nadu prison department has temporarily closed at least sixteen sub-jails across the state and relocated inmates to nearby prisons following several jailbreaks, according to The New Indian Express.
In the Madurai range, authorities have closed sub-jails located in Theni's Uthamapalayam, Virudhunagar's Aruppukottai, Thoothukudi's Srivaikundam, and Tenkasi's Sankarankovil. In Thoothukudi, 17 inmates from the Srivaikuntam sub-jail were moved to the Thoothukudi district jail in Perurani.
ADGP K Shankar, the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, said the sub-jails are not completely shut down. He explained that inmates were moved because staff numbers exceeded inmate numbers in certain locations.
Shankar stated that Superintendents of Prisons were instructed to identify these cases, move the inmates, and redeploy the staff. He added that many other sub-jails remain operational and the changes are temporary administrative adjustments.
The ADGP also noted that out-gang duties have been suspended across the state. This means inmates will temporarily stop managing poultry units, gardens, prison bazaars, and petrol bunks.
Shankar said these precautionary measures were taken due to the current situation and operations will resume once the issues have stabilised.