Chennai | In the wake of a major jailbreak in Theni district, Tamil Nadu prison department has authorised its personnel to use firearms if necessary to prevent inmates from escaping, police sources said on Wednesday.
Director General of Police (Prisons) Sandeep Rai Rathore issued the directives allowing guards to use guns, depending on the situation, to control untoward incidents such as jailbreaks, they said.
The move came in the wake of 17 inmates managing to escape from a Theni district prison late on Monday.
Sources said that following the Theni incident, instructions have been issued to ensure the deployment of armed guards for surveillance at watchtowers across 125 prisons in the state.
Sources indicated that a definitive decision has been made to permit the use of weapons if inmates attempt to flee.
The undertrial prisoners escaped from the district Jail in Thekkampatti after faking a medical emergency and assaulting the prison guards, triggering massive statewide security alerts. 13 of the 17 escapees have since been recaptured.
