In a shocking security lapse, three inmates—including two Pakistani nationals—fled from the RS Pura Observation Home in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday evening. Authorities responded swiftly by suspending six on-duty police personnel on Tuesday, launching a massive manhunt to recapture the fugitives.
The escape unfolded around 5:15 PM at the Social Welfare Department’s facility in RS Pura, established in 1988 to house under-trial juveniles under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The fugitives attacked the guarding officers before breaking out. Identified as local gangster Karnajeet Singh alias Gugga from Dablehar in RS Pura, and Pakistani citizens Mohammad Sunaullah and Ehsan Anwar, the trio vanished into the night.
Complicating matters, Gugga’s mother went missing the following day, fueling suspicions of a larger conspiracy. Police have cordoned off surrounding areas and formed multiple teams for intensive searches across potential hideouts.
Observation Homes like this one provide temporary shelter, counseling, education, and rehabilitation for minors under 18 awaiting Juvenile Justice Board trials. Unlike special homes for long-term offenders or children’s homes for the needy, these focus on under-trials, with separate arrangements for boys and girls, sometimes by age groups. Run often in partnership with NGOs under Section 47 of the JJ Act, they aim to transform young offenders into responsible citizens through comprehensive care including food, clothing, medical aid, and skill-building.
This incident exposes vulnerabilities in juvenile detention security, prompting questions about oversight and protocols. Officials assure the public that every effort is underway to apprehend the escapees and prevent future breaches, as investigations deepen into possible internal collusion.