Twenty-seven juvenile delinquents escaped from a government-run observation home here after attacking the staff including the superintendent, while 13 of them were held by police today.
The inmates attacked the staff members with knives and firewood, injuring four including Superintendent Sanjay Kumar Mohanty before 27 of them escaped last evening, police said.
The injured were admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital where their condition was stated to be stable.
Soon after the incident, police swung into action and 13 of the inmates who had escaped were caught from Berhampur (7), Hinjili (3) and Chamakhandi (3) areas during raids, said sub divisional police officer (Berhampur), P K Patnaik.
Following the incident, Deputy Secretary in women and child development department, Rashmita Panda visited the home today to take stock of the situation.
Patrolling was intensified and security beefed up near the observation home where 84 juveniles were lodged, he added.
The juveniles had also allegedly ransacked the office of the superintendent and snatched his mobile phone.
"The incident is being inquired by the police. We are also trying to solve the problems of the inmates and prevent recurrence of such incident," said Ganjam district Collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
He said a new building for the observation home was nearing completion and the inmates would be shifted there soon.
