A total of 165 personnel, including 105 from the Prisons Department led by Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (Madurai Range) D Palani took part in the combing operation which began at 6 am and lasted till 7.20 am, sources told DT Next.

They checked whether the prison inmates were in possession of items that were prohibited under the Prisons Act, 1894. As per its provisions, various items including cell phone, blade, oil-can, products made of steel and iron and rope are banned.

Currently, a total of 1,110 prisoners are lodged in eight blocks in the prison. Among the total inmates, 60 per cent are convict prisoners, while the rest were remand prisoners, the source said. The central prison has a capacity to accommodate as many as 1,332 persons. 

Palayamkottai Superintendent of Prisons C Krishnakumar and Palayamkottai Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vijayakumar were also among those in the search party which inspected the prison cells. Since a mobile signal jammer is in place, usage of mobile phones has been restricted. Over the last four years, there has been no case of mobile phone usage recorded in the prison. Around 30 personnel are engaged in monitoring the cells round the clock, the source added.

There was mild tension in the Vellore women prison following the discovery of 2 knives in a room used by inmates on Saturday. The knives were found during a surprise inspection undertaken by women police constables. 

As prison officials did not lodge a complaint with the police, checks by prison authorities revealed

that women prisoners had kept the knives in the room after cleaning the compound instead of handing them over to the concerned jail officials. Sources, however, revealed that what was discovered were only sickles used to cut grass. Senior jail officials refused to comment despite repeated attempts.