Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), Jun 23 (PTI) Eleven juveniles escaped from a government-run observation home in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district on Tuesday after allegedly taking advantage of heavy rains and a power outage, officials said.
The incident took place around 7.30 pm at the juvenile observation home located under Gandhi Nagar police station limits in Ambikapur city, the district’s headquarters, said Manish Kushwaha, House Father (caregiver and supervisor) of the facility.
Police have set up checkpoints across the city and launched searches at railway stations, bus stands and other locations to trace the underage inmates.
The minors in conflict with law had returned to their rooms after dinner, while some were watching television when heavy rains accompanied by thunder started, leading to a power failure in the area, he said.
Taking advantage of the situation, 11 of the inmates allegedly removed a window and escaped from the facility, he said.
The escapees belonged to Surguja, Surajpur and Korea districts and had been lodged at the facility in connection with various criminal offences, including theft, rape and murder, the official said.
Some of them had been admitted recently, while others had been staying at the home for a longer period, he said.
According to Kushwaha, one of the escapees is believed to be a habitual offender from Ambikapur against whom several criminal cases are registered at different police stations.
He suspected this juvenile offender may have persuaded the others to execute the escape plan.
Police and senior officials have been informed about the incident, and families of the juveniles are being contacted, he said.
On receiving information about the incident, police set up checkpoints across the city and launched searches at railway stations, bus stands and other locations for the escapees.
Teams from police and the observation home administration have been conducting a search operation to trace the inmates, he added. PTI COR TKP RSY
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