Chennai: In connection with the escape of 17 prisoners from the Theni prison, State Legal Services Authority Executive Chairman and Madras High Court senior judge S.M. Subramaniam has ordered district legal services authority chairpersons to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on whether they were subjected to torture by being denied proper food and drinking water.
17 prisoners escaped from the Theni prison. They were later recaptured and lodged in the central prisons at Cuddalore, Madurai, Salem, and Nellai.
One of the escaped prisoners had released a video saying that he fled because he was beaten and tortured in Theni jail without being provided proper food or drinking water.
In this situation, State Legal Services Authority Executive Chairman and Madras High Court senior judge S.M. Subramaniam has ordered that the district judges, who are the chairpersons of the legal services authorities in Theni, Madurai, Cuddalore, Salem, and Nellai districts, should separately meet all 17 of the escaped prisoners and conduct an inquiry with them on whether they were denied proper food and drinking water facilities in Theni jail and were beaten and tortured.
In this regard, in a report issued by District Judge S. Balakrishnan, who is the member secretary of the State Legal Services Authority, it is stated that during this inquiry, which is being conducted as per the order of the Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, the 17 people concerned with the district legal services authority chairpersons should be personally met and questioned.
At that time, no prison officials should be allowed to be present.
If what those prisoners say is true, then those responsible for it should also be investigated.
They should be investigated to determine whether they were beaten and tortured after escaping and being rearrested, and whether they have injuries on their bodies, and the necessary medical facilities should be provided.
In this regard, the chairpersons of the concerned District Legal Services Authorities have been ordered to file a report by Nov. 16.
