8 juveniles escape from observation home in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund

Eight juveniles escaped from a government-run observation home in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, in the early hours of Monday.

The escapees, aged 14 to 17, fled after 3 am by pulling and stretching window bars; a police patrol found nothing unusual between 2 and 2:30 am.

The juveniles came from various parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, including Saraipali, Kalahandi, Mahasamund town, Fingeshwar, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, and Kurud.

Three were accused in Excise Act cases, two in thefts, and one each in rape and drug cases; 27 juveniles were lodged at the time.

Police are conducting a search operation; the incident follows similar escapes in Bilaspur on July 13 and Surguja on June 23.