Tamil Nadu's Prisons Department launched a security audit of all state jails after 17 undertrial prisoners broke out of Thekkampatti Sub-Jail on 17th June.
The escape, which police say was a coordinated plot, involved a fake seizure claim that lured staff into a trap, allowing 17 inmates to overtake guards, seize keys and slip into the forest.
Thirteen of the escapees have been re‑arrested; four remain at large, prompting a search that stretched across forests and involved 17 special teams and three drones.
The audit, to be completed by month‑end, will map vulnerabilities, assess whether watchtowers should be armed, and recommend infrastructure hardening. Prison Department official told reporters the one‑week exercise will guide decisions on arming watchtowers as a preventive measure.
Thekkampatti jail houses 334 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 200, raising concerns over overcrowding and staff security. Earlier this month, 17 escapees from Puzhal prison were also apprehended after a brief break‑out.
Authorities plan to present audit findings to the state Home Minister by 30th June, after which a decision will be made on arming watchtowers and tightening perimeter controls.