The electric fence in Puzhal Jail has not worked for the past 3 years

View of Puzhal Central Jail in Chennai. | Photo credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

A solar-powered electric fence along the perimeter wall of the Puzhal Jail Complex, one of the country’s largest jails, remained non-functional for three years, official sources said on Sunday.

Without an annual maintenance contract, the solar fence failed about three years ago. When a prisoner from Nepal recently scaled the perimeter wall and escaped from the prison and was later captured, it was reported that the power supply in the fence was not functional due to the rains.

However, sources said the electric fence had no power for a long time. A senior prison department official confirmed this to ‘The Hindu’ and said that steps have been taken to restore power using alternating current (AC) as in other central jails.

Built on a sprawling 212 acres of land, Puzhal Prison Complex is home to Central Prison I (Convicts), Central Prison II (Remand Prisoners) and Special Prison for Women. Built by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation, the complex was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister in 2006.

Non-gang duties suspended

In a related development, the Tamil Nadu Prisons Department has suspended the emergency operation preventing convicts from going out to petrol stations, prison bazaars etc.

Additional Director General of Police, Prisons K. Shankar said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure. About 100 convicts were housed at gas stations located near 11 central prisons in Tamil Nadu and other small business establishments such as the “Freedom Bazaar” that sell products made by inmates in the prison industry.

“There is a chance that they (non-gang convicts) may abscond. The decision to suspend the deployment of non-gang convicts is a temporary measure. The petrol stations will continue to be operated by Indian Oil Corporation,” the ADGP said.

Mr. Shankar took over as ADGP in prisons a few days ago after DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore was transferred following the sensational jailbreak in Theni where 17 inmates escaped from the district jail after overpowering the prison guards on duty. All the fugitives were captured by the Tamil Nadu police, who launched a massive combing operation and also flew drones over forest areas bordering Theni and neighboring Keralam.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 20:40 IST