MADURAI: Seventeen inmates allegedly assaulted a prison guard and escaped from Thekkampatti jail in Theni district on Monday, prompting police to launch a statewide manhunt and intensify vehicle checks across several districts.According to Theni police, some inmates feigned seizures and attacked prison staff when they approached to help. The inmates then fled the prison.Theni district superintendent of police KS Praveen Gowtham inspected the prison following the incident. Kandamanur police registered a case, while special teams were formed to trace the escapees, two senior prison department sources confirmed.
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Police stepped up surveillance in neighbouring districts, particularly Villupuram, where several of the fugitives are believed to hail from. Vehicle checks were intensified across Villupuram district amid concerns that the inmates could attempt to return to their hometowns.The escapees were identified as Lingam, Raja Singandhar, Karuppasamy, Silambarasan, Thirupathi, Menjisundaram, Sabari, Pon Muthu, Nijanth, Karthik Raja, Mugilan, Selva, Tarun, Rajkumar, Praveen, Muthu Ilango and Rajuveen.Senior police and prison officials are investigating possible security lapses and the sequence of events leading to the escape.Authorities have yet to disclose the condition of the assaulted guard, the offences for which the inmates were imprisoned or whether any of them have since been apprehended.Further investigation is underway.