Odisha Juvenile Home Raid Uncovers Contraband; Staff Under Scrutiny Amid Security Lapses

Rourkela police executed a surprise raid at the Place of Safety (PoS), a juvenile correctional facility under Odisha’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, seizing a range of prohibited items including tobacco packets, matchboxes, mobile chargers, pliers, electrical wires, pencil batteries, nail cutters, and pointed metal objects. The operation, conducted from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. under Panposh SDPO RR Mohapatra and RN Pali IIC Rajendra Swain, with Executive Magistrate Bikash Bhoi present, aimed to restore order in a facility notorious for recurring law-and-order issues.

The PoS, located on the Rourkela Special Jail campus, houses 104 inmates aged 16 to 21, both under-trial and convicted for serious crimes, as per the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act. Recent incidents, including attempted suicides and assaults by overage inmates, prompted the transfer of two convicts (over 18) for rape and murder to the Rourkela Special Jail. Superintendent of Police Nitesh Wadhwani described the raid as a critical step to curb disorder, with investigations now focusing on how contraband infiltrated the facility and whether its 16 contractual staff or Home Guards are complicit.

The facility’s challenges are compounded by its cramped four-dormitory setup and understaffing. A June 26 inmate protest, allegedly orchestrated by a now-disengaged contractual superintendent via phone, highlighted systemic oversight gaps. The absence of a permanent superintendent further complicates management. Police have urged rigorous background checks for contractual staff to prevent future breaches.

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This raid underscores the urgent need for reforms in Odisha’s juvenile justice system, where resource constraints and lax security threaten rehabilitation goals. As investigations proceed, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure safety and accountability in the PoS, safeguarding vulnerable inmates from further turmoil.

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