Theni jailbreak: Kerala police alerted; combing operations going on in forest areas too, says officer

District sub-Jail at Thekkampatti near Andipatti in Theni district, where 17 prisoners escaped, on October 26, 2026 night. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Following the escape of the 17 remand prisoners from Theni district jail late on Monday (October 26, 2026) night, the Kerala police has been alerted and combing operations were underway in some of the forest areas too, said a senior officer.The special teams have shared the pictures of the escaped accused with officers at different locations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The search was underway in forest areas along the Western Ghats and in neighbouring Idukki district in Kerala too.Police identified the warden injured in the attack by the inmates, as Thangapandi, a Grade II constable. He has been admitted in Theni Government Medical College and Hospital. Two others are also undergoing treatment, the senior officer said.Though the exact locations from where the four prisoners were re-apprehended by the special teams were not disclosed immediately, the senior officer said that based on the confessions of the accused, the teams were tracking to nab the remaining prisoners who had escaped.“Once the remaining 13 prisoners are also secured, we will conduct a thorough inquiry,” said Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.Inspector General of Police (south zone) said that they have shared information with senior officers in Kerala and the combing operation was on in full swing. Published - October 27, 2026 08:25 am IST