The observation home staff suspect that the boys might have escaped between 11 a.m. and 12.15 p.m. on Wednesday by breaking the window of one of the toilets. The possibility that the security guards of the home having helped the boys to escape has not been ruled out.

An enquiry has been ordered into the incident. South district officer Chandra Prabha will head the enquiry committee. Though the staff fear that they might have escaped through the window in the toilet, the police believe that the boys ran away while they were being escorted to a nearby school.

There are about 400 boys staying at the remand home. The boys have been sent by the Juvenile board.