Chennai: Eleven juveniles lodged at Government Correctional Facility for Boys and Girls, Chengalpet, escaped on Friday night after overpowering the home warden, prompting a large-scale search operation by police. The juveniles had been remanded in connection with cases including theft, robbery, drug peddling and murder.Police said they pushed the home warden into a dormitory, locked the door from outside and fled the premises. Chengalpet Town police rushed to the facility and launched an investigation to identify the absconding juveniles and trace their native places. Chengalpet district superintendent of police Aiman Jamal visited the correctional home and inspected the premises.Teams from Chengalpet Town police, taluk police and police stations at Palur and Padalam fanned out to search for the detenus. One of the 11 juveniles was traced and taken back into custody, while efforts continued to apprehend the remaining 10.The British-era correctional facility houses juveniles from across Tamil Nadu. Officials said similar escape incidents had occurred in the past, with inmates assaulting staff before fleeing.Police said this was the third escape from the facility in the past eight months. In an earlier incident, five juveniles escaped, and four of them were apprehended. In July, at least 12 juveniles escaped during a movie screening. The escapees attacked passersby, snatched two-wheelers and robbed phones. Following this, special police teams managed to track down and secure several detenus in Coimbatore and Chennai.The latest incident has renewed concerns over security at the correctional home. There have been calls for round-the-clock deployment of dedicated security personnel on a rotational basis to prevent further escapes and strengthen surveillance inside the home.Police said search operations would continue until all the absconding juveniles were secured.
