Jammu, February 17 – Six police officers stationed at the observation home in R.S. Pura, J&K, were suspended on Tuesday, following the escape of three inmates. The escaped inmates include two Pakistani nationals and a local gangster from R.S. Pura.
The three inmates of the Social Welfare Department observation home in Jammu escaped on Monday after reportedly attacking the police officers stationed there.
The escaped inmates have been identified as local gangster Karanjit Singh, also known as "Gugga," who resides in Dablehar, R.S. Pura, and Mohd Sunaullah and Ahsan Anwar, both Pakistani nationals.
Meanwhile, the mother of the escaped gangster, Karanjit Gugga, also went missing on Tuesday, according to police, adding that the escape appears to be part of a deep-rooted conspiracy.
Officials said the incident occurred around 5:15 pm on Monday, when the inmates reportedly assaulted two police personnel and fled from the facility.
Shortly after the incident, police registered a case and launched a large-scale search operation to track the fugitives. Authorities said multiple police teams have been formed, and raids are being conducted at various locations to apprehend the escaped inmates.
Police personnel immediately cordoned off the surrounding areas following the escape. The observation home in R.S. Pura, run by the Social Welfare Department, was established in 1988.
It houses undertrials and juveniles in conflict with the law, providing shelter, counseling, education, and rehabilitation support. Such facilities operate under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and are intended for temporary care during ongoing legal proceedings.
The observation home temporarily houses juveniles (under 18) while their cases are being investigated or tried by the Juvenile Justice Board.
The inmates are provided with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and rehabilitation, with the aim of transitioning children into productive citizens.
These observation homes are established by the UT government, often in partnership with NGOs, under Section 47 of the JJ Act, 2015.
Unlike Special Homes (for long-term, post-conviction rehabilitation) or Children's Homes (for the care and protection of children in need), Observation Homes are specifically for undertrial juveniles.
Separate facilities are required for boys and girls, and sometimes based on age groups.
