Kolkata: Eleven inmates of a Destitute Home in West Bengal’s Hoogly District have escaped away today.
“Eleven inmates of a destitute home in Uttarpara escaped through a window on early Monday. Two of the women are Bangladeshi nationals,” an official at the Uttarpara police station said.
“Most of the escapees are from North 24-Parganas and were trafficked to Mumbai. They were rescued and brought to the home Nov 23,” the official added.
Women inmates at Destitute Homes have a general tendency to run away due to pathetic condition and frequent exploitation in such homes.
West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Sabitri Mitra denied any lapse of security at the home and blamed the inmates’ “tendency to escape”.
“Inmates of destitute homes have a tendency to escape and in this case they never wanted to live in the home,” said Mitra.
“There has been no lack of security. They have been trying to escape ever since they were brought here following a court order. A departmental inquiry has been ordered and police are looking for them,” added Mitra.
An official of the destitute home, some 15 km from here, said the women had been trying to escape ever since they were brought to the home.
“We have informed the district administration about the escaped inmates. A complaint has been registered with the police who are investigating the matter. All the escapees are in their late 30s,” the official said.
Shelter homes in the district have earlier been in the news for the wrong reasons when the body of a mentally deranged women inmate was found buried inside a home after being raped and killed.