Bhubaneswar: A 17-year-old juvenile offender housed at the government-run ‘Place of Safety’ in Rourkela was rushed to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) in critical condition after allegedly consuming phenyl, meant for floor cleaning, on Saturday.
Hailing from Balangir district, the juvenile offender was found in a serious condition in the wee hours of Saturday after consuming phenyl. Juvenile correction centre authorities immediately shifted the ailing juvenile offender to RGH, where his condition is stated to critical.
The exact cause behind juvenile’s drastic step is yet to be ascertained According to preliminary reports, the juvenile might have consumed the toxic substance following a heated altercation with fellow inmates the previous night.
The ‘Place of Safety’ centre, which operates under the Department of Women and Child Development, houses juveniles aged 16-21 who are accused or convicted of serious crimes. An inquiry is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
