Bhubaneswar, February 17 The Odisha Police has launched a search operation to locate two juvenile offenders who escaped from the observation home in Angul, officials said on Tuesday.
Although the incident occurred on February 14, it came to light only after the police initiated the search.
The teenagers reportedly escaped through a drain hole leading outside the campus, possibly in the evening, police said.
"One of the escapees is from Opada in the Balasore district, and the other is from Tangi in the Cuttack district. One is being held on charges of rape, and the other on charges of theft," said Pradip Kumar Nayak, the inspector in charge of the Angul police station.
"We have informed various police stations to locate them. Once they are arrested, they will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board," Nayak added.
Nearly 30 juveniles from 10 districts are currently housed in the Angul observation home, police said.