CHENNAI: A theft accused remanded in custody of Maduranthagam sub-jail escaped on Friday afternoon. Three jail officials have been placed under suspension. Police have begun a hunt in and around Maduranthagam to nab him.
Police sources said the escaped accused was Karthick (24), arrested on April 26 by Acharapakkam police for stealing sewing machines from a shop. He was remanded by a magistrate’s court in Maduranthagam for 15 days’ judicial custody.
“On Friday, all the prisoners were having lunch when Karthick was found missing. He apparently stayed back and climbed the jail’s boundary wall,” said a police source. Since a market street ran along the jail wall, it was easy for Karthick to mingle with the crowd and flee.
When queried about the incident ADGP (Prisons) JK Tripathy said, “Three personnel have been suspended for the security lapse. We have also formed special teams to trace the absconding prisoner.” Police said Karthick was found to be involved in several other theft cases too. A relative of Karthick said he was innocent and was not a habitual thief as projected by police. She said the police booked several false cases against Karthick. The Maduranthagam sub-jail is over 75 years old and a few months ago the jail’s 15 feet high compound wall collapsed. So 39 inmates were shifted to another jail.