Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday ordered the formation of a high-level committee, headed by retired IPS officer J K Tripathy, to examine prison security across the state and recommend measures to prevent jailbreaks.
The decision follows the escape of 17 prisoners from the Thekkampatti sub-jail in Theni district on October 26. After reviewing security arrangements in prisons across Tamil Nadu, the chief minister ordered a detailed inquiry into the lapses that led to the recent prison escapes, a government release said.
The committee will examine the existing security infrastructure, standard operating procedures, technology gaps and deployment of personnel. It will also study security practices followed in other parts of the country and abroad before recommending measures to strengthen prisons and prevent similar incidents.
Tripathy, a former Director General of Police, will chair the panel. Additional Director General of Police and Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services K Shankar, and retired Deputy Inspector General of Prisons S Rajendran will be its members.
The committee has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry into the security lapses behind the recent escapes and submit a report with its recommendations to the government at the earliest.
The government said the chief minister had directed that prison security be strengthened on a war footing and accountability fixed for any negligence in duty.