Twelve juvenile criminals, lodged in Borstal school, Nashik, escaped in the wee hours of Monday morning, bringing to fore the gaps in its security system.
According to police sources, the incident took place around 3 am on Monday, but came to light when the officers were on 5.30am round of the barracks.
Preliminary probe reveals that eight inmates of barrack 1 cut open the iron bars of a window in the base with a hexa-blade and sneaked out. The boys also carried their bedsheets and towels with them. It is also believed that they had a key to barrack number 2, from where another four more inmates joined them.
It is still not known as to how the inmates in barrack 1 managed to get hold of a key to barrack 2. Sources said that all the keys were in a box, which was fastened with a latch. The guard on duty claimed that key of the box was with him only all through the incident.
Of the 26 inmates, 12 of them sneaked out and reached the wall on the back of the building which lines the civil hospital.
It is said that they formed a pyramid, fashioned on dahi-handi style, to scale the 16-foot-high wall. One of them then lowered a rope, which they made out of bed sheets and towels, and pulled the others up.
The premise was a sub-jail earlier and was converted into a Borstal school in 1990. It has two main barracks along with other barracks and administrative offices. However, the premise does not have any CCTV cameras for monitoring.
Sources said there were only four men on duty during the night. While two kept guard by the gate, two were inside the premise.
Senior officers, including DCP N Ambika and ACP Raju Bhujbal, rushed to the school to investigate the matter. With nine of the 12 inmates hailing from Pune, one from Mumbai and two from Satara, an alert was sounded for them all over the state.
Of the 12, three were held for murder, one for attempt to murder and others for thefts and dacoity.
Seven of them, police claimed, were later captured in a CCTV camera of a shop in Panchavati. Clothes of the inmates, resembling the school uniform, were found thrown by the bridge near Chopda lawns.
ADG Prison admits to lapses
Additional director general of police (Prisons) BK Upadhaya said two staff members of the Borstal school have been suspended for negligence. "There has been negligence and we cannot deny that," he told reporters after visiting the school. Those suspended are havildar Rajendra Zalte and Aswar Bhagat.
"There are other issues also, like insufficient staff, lack of CCTV cover, etc," he said adding increasing the height of the wall by another five feet is also under consideration. Only 17 of the 35 staff are with the school while the rest are on deputation. The post of SP is also vacant and currently an officer in PSI grade is in charge.
Two juveniles held in Pune
After an alert was sounded, Nigadi police, who got a tip-off from sources on sighting two run-away juveniles in Sane chowk, Chikahli area, succeeded in detaining them at around 11.30 am. The duo was then brought to Nigadi police station. "Two boys have been held in Pune and our team has gone to take custody of them," said DCP N Ambika adding that statements of all the inmates are being recorded for investigation purpose.
Sources said that one of the 12 juveniles, who has become 'impatient' of late, could have planned the escape and motivated others. Though his term was over, his parents had written to the authorities not to release him.
