Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Four inmates escape from Hoshiarpur juvenile home

- HT Correspond­ent

HOSHIARPUR : Four inmates escaped from the juvenile observatio­n home in Ram Colony Camp on Monday night.

The authoritie­s revealed that three of the escapees were facing murder trial.

They all were adults, the authoritie­s said.

The inmates escaped by breaking the bars of the bathroom’s ventilator.

“They apparently used a sanitary pipe to break open the grill, said observatio­n home superinten­dent Naresh Kumar.

A security guard and two caretakers of the social security and developmen­t department were on duty at the time of the incident, he said.

The incident took place around 9pm as all the 73 inmates had gone for dinner, which was served at 8.15pm.

“Other undertrial­s raised the alarm when they found four inmates missing,” the superinten­dent said.

“After verifying the count, we sounded the police. A search was launched around the premises but the inmates had escaped by then, added the superinten­dent, not ruling out involvemen­t of other inmates in their escape.

Kumar said offenders were lodged at the juvenile home despite having crossed the age of 18, as per the provision of the Juvenile Justice Act which states that “place of safety” must be designated for children pending trial.

“There is no other space specifical­ly earmarked for them, that’s why they cohabit juveniles,” the superinten­dent said.

Deputy superinten­dent of police (city) Satinder Chadha said the police were trying to nab the escapees.

Several such occurrence­s have taken place in the home in the past also.

In 2010, six inmates had fled from the juvenile home.

They apparently used a sanitary pipe to break open the grill. NARESH KUMAR, observatio­n home superinten­dent

AMRITSAR: India repatriate­d 14 Pakistani fishermen who were arrested for allegedly entering its territoria­l waters in the Arabian Sea, through the Attariwaga­h border on Tuesday.

While fishing in the sea, they entered territoria­l waters of India around three years ago. After being kept in various jails of the country, they were freed and sent back to their country. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel handed them over to the Pakistan Rangers.

‘MISTAKENLY’ ENTERED TERRITORIA­L WATERS

Arresting and sentencing each others’ fishermen is usual practice exercised by both the countries as they “mistakenly” enter the territoria­l waters of the other country.

“We are poor people and go for fishing for our ends meet. We don’t enter territoria­l waters of the other country deliberate­ly. Still, we are arrested and are made to languish in jails for many years. Even our boats are also seized,” said a fisherman, before crossing the border.

He requested government­s of both the countries to resolve their issue and not to arrest them while fishing.

“The problem of the fishermen of both the countries is same,” he said.

Pakistan government should also release the Indian fishermen languishin­g in Pakistan’s jails,” he added.

According to Pak media reports, Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan is extending a hand of friendship towards New Delhi and is likely to order release of 30 India fishermen before his oath-taking ceremony on August 14.

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