Five underage boys, four of whom are facing charges of being involved in criminal activities, have mysteriously disappeared from ‘secured' child care centres here.
While four of them ran away from the Paraspara Trust, Chinnara Thangudhama, at Kanshiram Nagar on Hesaraghatta Main Road, the fifth fled from the Government Boys Home on Hosur Road.
The Special Juvenile Protection Unit of the Police Department had sent four children, aged between 8 and 15, to the Paraspara Trust, Chinnara Thangudhama, a few months ago. The boys, who were sent there by the Vidyaranyapura and Jalahalli police, are said to have escaped on January 26.
Saga of complaint
However, the child care centre reported them missing only on February 8. The delay in filing the complaint has raised eyebrows.
The trust claims that the police initially refused to file the missing complaint.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, K.N. Bhagyalakshmi, executive director of Paraspara Trust, Chinnara Thangudhama, said: “We have enough staff to take care of the children. But four boys managed to run away while participating in the Republic Day celebrations.”
She said they have been looking for the children besides filing a missing complaint at the Vidyaranyapura police station.
Short-staffed
Meanwhile, an orphaned six-year-old ran away from the short-staffed Government Home for Boys on Hosur Road on February 6.
Home Superintendent Haleema has sought the Wilson Garden police's help in tracing him.