11 Inmates Escape Chengalpattu Special Home; Police Search for 10

Eleven children in conflict with the law escaped from the government special home in Chengalpattu on Friday night, marking the third such incident at the facility this year. One of the boys, aged between 14 and 18, was secured near a railway track later that night, while police continue searching for the remaining ten.

The escapees face cases involving Pocso offences, attempt to murder, and petty crimes. Two of the children had previously taken part in an earlier escape attempt from the same facility.

According to sources, the incident followed an aborted clash between five boys in dormitory 1 and six in dormitory 2, which failed to occur after a home guard arrived to call them for dinner. Angered after staff previously informed them that a case had been filed against them for damaging property during earlier clashes, the group chose to break out instead.

The juveniles propped a ladder against the compound wall near D block on the Karimedu side, tied bedsheets to it, and scaled the wall. When staff attempted to intervene, the group tried to attack them with a wooden log before fleeing.

Police personnel from Chengalpattu Town, Taluk, Balur, and Padalam stations, alongside the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed across the area to track down the missing boys.

The incident follows previous security breaches at the facility, including escapes in February and on June 22, as well as a July incident where 12 juveniles escaped from the Government Place of Safety at nearby Athur.

The district superintendent of police inspected the facility on Friday night. On Saturday, Social Welfare Secretary Pallavi Baldev and Joint Director Vijayakumar visited the home to hold discussions with officials and staff.