Dongri remand home needs more security

Meanwhile, 34 of the boys escaped. ‘‘They climbed a staircase to the top of a water tank and then jumped off the boundary wall,’’ said Gorad.

At the time of the incident, two of the home’s securitymen were on leave, leaving just four on duty. While one was posted at the main gate, three were inside when the commotion started.

Though the observation home usually holds about 600 children, 450 boys and 150 girls, there were only 210 boys at the time of the incident as 203 children were released from the home last month.

According to sources inside the remand home, the rampage started at about 8.30 pm on Saturday, when the children were denied liquor by the staff. Later, the rioting children allegedly ransacked the office of the superintendent and deputy superintendent, the dispensary and the tailoring class. Gorad estimated the damage at a minimum of Rs 3 lakh.

This is the third time in a month that children have escaped from the remand home, believed to be the largest in Asia. On December 3, eight inmates escaped from the observation home after a fight with a rival gang. Five days later, another boy escaped while being taken to nearby J J Hospital for a medical check-up.

Now, Gorad has said more security is needed at the remand home. ‘‘We have a maximum of five securitymen at any given time. I’ve written for more security to higher authorities several times in the past. It’s high time more staff were deputed here,’’ he said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Arup Patnaik, meanwhile, said the security at the remand home was ‘‘lax’’. ‘‘The kids at the remand home are not your regular kids. They are juveniles and they are wild and rash. They’ve been creating trouble for quite some time now. The remand home needs more stringent security,’’ he said.

Officials at the remand home, meanwhile, say it is also the overage boys—above the juvenile age of 18—charged with grave offences who are usually responsible for the unrest. Of the 203 boys currently housed at Dongri, 18 have been charged with murder, 28 with rape and 36 with drug trafficking.