Convict Who Escaped from Prison Caught

The 57-year-old life convict, who escaped from  Vellore Central Prison for Men  last week, was arrested in Coimbatore and brought back here on Monday.He was lodged in the high-risk prisoners’ cell and the Prison Department has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident.

Natarajan (alias) Paul Pandi of Sivakasi escaped on Thursday last when he was taken along with five other convicts for clearing bushes.Natarajan has been serving life imprisonment for the last 22 years. He was shifted to the Vellore Central Prison on October 27, 2007, from the Central Prison in Cuddalore, after he attempted to escape from there, said  sources in the prison.

After Natarajan escaped, Superintendent of Prison V Karupannan sent a team of 10 warders to Coimbatore to zero in on him. The prison authorities with the help of local police caught him from his hideout at Bharathi Nagar in Ramanathapuram in Coimbatore on Sunday. He was brought to Vellore Prison on Monday, said the source.

“We have begun an inquiry into the  incident. We will take appropriate action against the officials concerned and also against the convict,” said Karunpannan.