Chennai: In an unprecedented action, the state jail administration has shifted all 46 inmates of Poonamallee sub-jail and accommodated them in various central prisons, including Puzhal, across the state. At least 23 of them, including advocate N Aswathaman, had been arrested in connection with the murder of BSP leader K Armstrong.
The move comes 10 days after the entire 11-member Poonamallee sub-jail staff, including its deputy jailor Selvaraj, were placed under suspension on charges of dereliction of duty.
Additional director-general of police (ADGP) Maheshwar Dayal cracked the whip after the nexus between the prison staff and inmates became evident during a surprise search of the jail premises on Dec 11. A special team seized five mobile phones, 20g and cash from the prison cells.
The special search was organised based on a tip-off about collusion among inmates and the sub-jail jail personnel. Besides prisoner transfer and enmasse suspension of jail personnel, the top brass has ordered an internal inquiry also into the issue.
While 23 Armstrong murder suspects and 15 others were shifted to Puzhal central prison last week, the remaining six prisoners were shifted out on Friday. Three of them were sent to Coimbatore central prison, two prisoners each were accommodated at Cuddalore and Puzhal central prisons, and one prisoner was transferred to Vellore central prison.
The entire Poonamallee sub-jail wore a deserted look following the transfer of all the inmates. Already, within a day after the en masse suspension, the jail security was handed over to personnel brought from other jails, as a temporary measure.