Police Hunt Eleven Escaped Inmates After Assault and Robbery Near Chengalpattu
Twelve inmates escaped from the Government Place of Safety in Athur near Chengalpattu on Sunday evening, subsequently assaulting and robbing motorists on the Chengalpattu-Orakkattupettai Road. While one 19-year-old escapee from K.K. Nagar in Chennai was arrested early on Monday, a police manhunt is underway for the remaining 11 absconding youths.
The incident occurred while a movie was being screened for the inmates on Sunday evening. Taking advantage of a reduced staff presence, more than 10 inmates managed to bypass the security guard at the entrance, break open the main gate, and escape the premises.
Following their escape, the group intercepted motorists on the Chengalpattu-Orakkattupettai Road. The escapees assaulted the motorists and robbed them of their two-wheelers, mobile phones, and cash before fleeing the scene.
The Chengalpattu Taluk Police launched an investigation and confirmed that 12 inmates had escaped. The absconding youths are reportedly from various districts, including Chennai, Namakkal, Coimbatore, and Theni.
Early on Monday morning, police apprehended one of the escapees, a 19-year-old resident of K.K. Nagar. Investigators stated that the youth had reached his home around midnight in an intoxicated state. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested him at his residence and brought him to the Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station for questioning.
The Government Observation Home and Place of Safety, which functions under the Social Welfare Department, houses over 70 juveniles and young offenders aged between 18 and 21 from across Tamil Nadu who are involved in various criminal cases.
The escape has highlighted security concerns and staffing shortages at the facility. According to police sources, several rival groups operate within the institution. Just 10 days prior to this incident, a violent clash broke out between two groups, leading to cases being registered against 19 inmates, during which more than five inmates had escaped.
The Chengalpattu Taluk Police are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the attack on the teachers and warden, and to trace the 11 inmates who remain at large.
