The Hindu : 3 undertrials escape from Palayamkottai prison

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

3 undertrials escape from Palayamkottai prison

By P. Sudhakar

TIRUNELVELI JUNE 22. Three undertrials today escaped from the 122-year-old Palayamkottai Central Prison, breaking iron rods fixed in a stormwater drain.

The Prison Superintendent, Moorthy, has recommended the suspension of grade I warder Raj, grade II warder Mani and chief head warder Annadurai, who were on duty when the incident occurred.

A special team, comprising police and prison officials, has been formed to nab the escapees, M. Kittappa (22), S. Kannan (24), both from Melaseval and K. Pandi (27) of Udayarkulam. Sniffer dog `Pamban' ran up to the Palayamkottai railway station, in vain.

All three outlaws had been isolated from the 1,900-odd prisoners, including 19 Al-Umma activists, and kept in three cells of the outside jail, also on the prison premises, along with four others, as they were said to be violent. There are 48 cells in the outside jail, constructed for keeping political prisoners away from the others. The outlaws were kept in the 3rd, 4th and 6th cells.

When the cells were opened at 6 a.m. today for the morning routine, the culprits came out with fellow-prisoners. However, they escaped through the stormwater drain immediately, breaking two iron rods in the drainage canal, which connects the prison and a nearby pond. It was too late when Mr. Mani noticed the absence of Kittappa, Kannan and Pandi.

While Pandi and Kittappa were arrested on charges of murder, Kannan was facing rape charges. The trial in Pandi's case was over on June 21 and judgment is to be pronounced on June 24.

The prison officials are breaking their heads over how the trio could escape from the enclosure, which is heavily guarded with highrise walls and live electric wires, apart from more than 10 round-the-clock watch towers. The drainage canal is right below one of the watch towers.

Security was beefed up in the prison complex following the escape. The DIG (Prisons), Raman, and the Range DIG, Sanjeev Kumar, visited the spot.

Incidentally, the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, was kept in the 5th cell when he was lodged in this prison. Since then no one has been lodged there.

Escapee convict nabbed

By Our Staff Reporter

Dharmapuri June22. A convict who had escaped five years ago while being taken to the Salem Central Prison was arrested at the Pochampalli bus stand on June 19.

The police said today a search was held on June 18 based on a complaint and Mahendran was arrested the next day.

Interrogation revealed that Mahendran was involved in various cases of waylaying and he had escaped during 1997.

He was produced before the Pochamapalli Court and remanded to custody.

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