CHENNAI: As many as 24 juveniles escaped from Government Observation Home in Kellys this noon, brandishing glass panes and allegedly causing injuries to fellow inmates this noon.
According to police, 24 boys escaped around 12, scaling the compound wall. Two 108 ambulances were rushed to the spot and treatment is being given to the injured boys.
Around 2.30 pm today, even as the media and police were present at the home, some of the juveniles who had escaped returned there and slashed themselves using blades. Then they rushed inside the home and locked themselves in a room. After a little struggle, police rescued them. One of the boys was heavily injured in the neck.
Anxious parents gathered in front of the home demanding the police to show their children, after they received call about the incident. Number of boys injured is yet to be known.
The parents also alleged the issues have been going on for the past three days and no security for boys in the home. This shows lapses of safety in the home, alleged parents.
In July, last year, 14 students escaped from the juvenile home after overpowering the warden. In October, again another 17 and in November eight more kids escaped from the same home.
The government juvenile home is located in the heart of the city at Purasaiwakkam and at any time around 100 juveniles arrested for crimes ranging from various nature will be housed in the home that functions under Juvenile Justice board.
One of the most common problems the juvenile delinquents face is abandonment by their own parents and a section of them end up being in the home for longer periods, though the Juvenile Justice Act makes it mandatory that the board must take a lenient view in granting them bails.
According to police sources, a group of the juveniles is said to have attacked another group of juveniles on Sunday causing injuries. The injured juveniles were treated and made to stay at the same home. Again last night, clashes had broken out between the two groups. Today around 12 noon the juveniles of one of these groups escaped after assaulting a few others.