Following a clash between the two rival groups, at least 33 juveniles went on a rampage at a Sewa Kutir (observation centre) in North Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar.
Taking advantage of the situation around 15 boys fled from the correction home on Tuesday afternoon. Preliminary investigation revealed that the juveniles vandalised the entire premises of a juvenile correction home, kept on rioting inside the home for around 2 hours, with many of them climbing the rooftop, pelting stones at each other. They also set house furniture set on fire, including the blankets and bed sheets and even attacked some inmates with sharp-edged blade.
So far, no police complaint has been lodged however the administration has informed the police. Notably, similar incident was reported from the same shelter in October.
Police said that the incident came to light at 3.30 pm when the administration informed the police about the incident, but the police hardly helped in stopping them. The administrators also tried to control the situation but failed miserably and the officials had a hard time convincing the boys to calm down and recede. “The juveniles broke the window panes and wooden furniture inside the home. The centre, a home for around 33 boys, allegedly involved in several criminal cases, turned into a battlefield when two separate groups of juveniles started fighting with each other,” the officer added.
Investigation also revealed that the inmates also threw burning materials on the staff. But the staff miraculously escaped unhurt. A posse of nearly 200 policemen apart from private security and personnel of Delhi Armed Police witnessed the rioting inside as bystanders. While eight DAP policemen and 21 private security guards were present when the rioting began, by 1.30 pm.
“The errant juveniles first entered into the kitchen and set it afire and they then climbed a 15 feet wall that is supported by barb wires and started pelting stones, rods, bricks on the private guards. They put mattresses, towel over the barbed wire and then climbed to the other side of the premises,” police sources said, adding that, police personnel were present at the spot, but they couldn’t use force as the rioters were below the age of 18. The complex, which houses several other offices got completely damaged as juveniles set at least three gates on fire.