Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday ordered the suspension of the deputy jail superintendent in charge of Thekkampatti sub-jail for dereliction of duty and transferred prison staff for security lapses leading to Theni jail break late on Monday.

The action comes after 17 prisoners escaped a prison in Theni district after staging a fake medical emergency and overpowering prison guards. Most of the prisoners, all undertrials, were captured. However, two prisoners remain at large.

The action includes the immediate suspension of the deputy jail superintendent (in-charge) N Ramalingam and a reshuffle of top prison administrators across the state, PTI reported.