9 juveniles escape from Ambala observation home

AMBALA: Nine juveniles escaped from an observation home here after scaling the 20-ft-high boundary wall in the wee hours of Sunday.

The escapees were facing trial in various cases including rape, murder, attempt to murder and theft, said ‘Bal Sudhar Grah’ officials. They said the accused took advantage of the ongoing construction in the building and broke open the locks of barrack no. 2 while the security staff was asleep.

Ambala superintendent of police Abhishek Jorwal who rushed to the spot said the inmates used a ladder to reach the terrace from where they climbed down with the help of the same ladder.

Some CCTV cameras installed inside the observation home were found defunct, SP Jorwal added. Jorwal said three teams of CIA staff have been dispatched to conduct raids to arrest the escapees. The other inmates are also being interrogated.

A case under relevant provisions of the law has been registered against the missing inmates, the SP added.

An observation home official said that 122 undertrials are lodged in the facility against the capacity of 50.