Chaos erupted at Jammu’s RS Pura Observation Home as three high-risk inmates escaped in a violent assault on guards, leading to the suspension of six police staff. The group features local kingpin Karnajeet Singh alias Gugga and two Pakistanis, Mohammad Sunaullah and Ehsan Anwar, vanishing Monday evening.
The 5:15 PM breach at the 1988-established facility triggered a lockdown and multi-agency chase. Gugga’s mother’s disappearance the next day suggests possible insider help or a premeditated plan. Police have launched door-to-door searches, checkpoints, and intelligence-driven ops to net the escapees.
Governed by the 2015 Juvenile Justice Act, Observation Homes shelter under-trial minors under 18, offering holistic support: shelter, education, counseling, medical services, and vocational training for societal reintegration. Section 47 enables government-NGO ties, distinguishing them from special (reformatory) or children’s (orphans/neglected) homes with gender/age-specific wings.
This fiasco reveals critical gaps in perimeter security and staffing at such centers meant to nurture rather than incarcerate. With geopolitical undertones from the Pakistani links, the response involves heightened vigilance. Officials are reviewing protocols, interviewing witnesses, and fortifying defenses to avert repeats, ensuring justice for vulnerable youth.