Chhattisgarh: 4 Inmates Escape Bilaspur Facility After Fatal Altercation with Watchman

Four inmates of a government-run observation home in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district allegedly strangled a 40-year-old watchman to death before escaping from the facility in the early hours of Monday, prompting a large-scale police search. The accused, who are now between 18 and over 20 years of age, were originally detained as juveniles under the Juvenile Justice Act and had continued to stay at the residential correctional facility, officially designated as a "place of safety," after attaining adulthood.

According to Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh, the incident took place at around 2 am at the government-run observation home located under the jurisdiction of Sarkanda police station. The deceased was identified as Narendra Kumar Khande, a resident of Araiband village in the Takhatpur area of Bilaspur district. Khande was employed as a contractual watchman at the facility and was on duty when the incident occurred.

Preliminary investigations suggest the four inmates overpowered Khande before carrying out the attack. Police said the accused allegedly assaulted him, tied his hands and legs, gagged him by stuffing a piece of cloth into his mouth and then strangled him to death. After the killing, the inmates managed to flee the premises. Authorities believe the attack was planned to facilitate their escape, though the exact sequence of events and any possible lapses in security remain under investigation.

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Officials said the accused had been lodged at the "place of safety" because they were juveniles at the time they allegedly committed criminal offences. Under the Juvenile Justice Act, individuals who were below 18 years of age when accused of certain offences can continue to remain in such facilities even after they attain adulthood, depending on legal provisions and the status of their cases. The government-run institution is designed to house such inmates separately while ensuring rehabilitation and security.

Following the incident, police launched an intensive manhunt to trace and apprehend the escaped inmates. Security has also been tightened at the observation home, and investigators are examining CCTV footage, questioning staff members and reviewing security protocols to determine how the inmates managed to execute the escape. Senior police officials visited the facility as part of the investigation, while forensic teams collected evidence from the scene.

The killing has raised serious concerns about security arrangements at correctional institutions housing offenders under the Juvenile Justice Act. Authorities are expected to review operational procedures at the facility as the investigation progresses. Meanwhile, police have appealed to the public to share any information that could help locate the four escaped inmates, while assuring that all efforts are being made to bring them back into custody at the earliest.

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