No security at observation home

NASHIK: The absence of security at the observation home for juveniles in Nashik is proving to be a challenge for the officials. The two instances of inmates escaping from the observation home have made the officials demand creation of a post of security personnel.
Juveniles held in criminal cases are kept in the correction home until they are granted bail.The district has one correction home for such juveniles.
Currently, no post for security guard is sanctioned for the observation home. Moreover, for the past one year, one of the four posts of caretaker is lying vacant. Whenever a caretaker is on leave, the two others have to do double duty.
"We have communicated with the departments concerned to provide us with the necessary staff. We hope that the request will be considered at the earliest," said Macchindra Pagare, superintendent of the observation home.
There was a proposal to fill the vacant post on honorarium basis, but the staff is not willing to take the risk. "If there is some lapse on part of the person employed on honorarium basis, they will simply quit. On the contrary, the regular appointee will be aware of the responsibilities and the repercussions in case of a lapse," said Pagare.
Officials said that in 2012-13, seven of the 192 juveniles were involved in rape cases and 16 in murder cases. The following year, three of the 181 juveniles in the correction home were involved in rape cases and 10 in murder cases.
Mangal Nehe, a teacher at the remand home, said that the juveniles held in rape cases talk about being influenced by the illicit material circulated on mobile phones. In murder cases, the juveniles are arrested if the complainant names them as an accomplice.
Officials at the remand home said that in maximum cases of thefts where juveniles were involved, they were accompanied by criminals elder than them.
Pagare said, "It is difficult to manage juveniles in the age group of 16 to 18 years. Many times, they are addicted to smoking, chewing tobacco and become impatient. It takes a lot of efforts to counsel them. We also seek services of expert counsellors."