Fuel stations operated by prison inmates across Tamil Nadu have been temporarily closed as a precaution after a series of prison escapes, officials said on Monday, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI). The closures follow the earlier escapes already reported this month — two prisoners from Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, 17 from a facility in Theni and one from Coimbatore. Police have caught those who escaped from the Chennai and Theni facilities, while the search for the Coimbatore inmate continues, PTI reported.
Source: PTI via News89 / India Today
As part of the enhanced security measures, 11 fuel stations staffed round the clock by trained prisoners in coordination with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited have been temporarily shut, police sources told PTI. The outlets include two each at the central prisons in Puzhal, Coimbatore and Madurai, and one each near the central prisons in Vellore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli and Palayamkottai. The fuel stations at the Tiruchirappalli special prison for women and the Pudukkottai district jail have also been closed. Bazaars operated by prison inmates have also been closed. Between 2019 and March 2026, the prison-run fuel outlets generated an estimated profit of Rs 55 crore for the state exchequer, PTI reported.
Source: PTI via News89 / India Today
The statewide shutdown builds on steps that began last week: Dinamalar reported that Vellore Central Jail shut its prison-run petrol pump, meat shop and other public-facing outlets from October 30 as a precaution after the Theni escape, pending a security inspection. Following criticism from opposition parties over the security breaches, the state government has also tightened surveillance across prisons and formed an inquiry committee to investigate the escapes and conditions in prison facilities, PTI reported.
Source: Dinamalar via UrbanAcres
The measures come amid allegations by a recaptured Theni inmate, Meenakshisundaram, who alleged in a viral video that severe torture and poor-quality food at the Theni jail had driven the inmates to escape — allegations that authorities are examining. A group of inmates had escaped from the district jail at Thekkampatti near Andipatti on October 26 after attacking guards and were caught within 36 hours. Meenakshisundaram also claimed 21 prisoners had escaped, contradicting the official figure of 17. These are his allegations; no official finding on them has been announced.
Source: PTI via News89 / India Today
Separately, the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA) has launched a formal investigation into the Theni allegations. Justice S.M. Subramaniam, chairman of the TNSLSA, has directed the district legal services wing in Theni to conduct an on-site inspection to verify claims that inmates were denied clean drinking water and proper food and subjected to ill-treatment, and to ascertain whether inmates were coerced or prevented from filing grievances, Mirror Now reported on Monday.
Source: Mirror Now
The TNSLSA has also directed legal services authorities in Cuddalore, Madurai, Salem and Tirunelveli — where the 17 prisoners are now held — to conduct private interviews with the inmates without prison staff present. All district authorities must submit their findings to the state body on or before November 16, after which the next steps on the allegations will be decided, Mirror Now reported.
Source: Mirror Now