Initiative to reform Jayandu Juvenile Correction Centre in Banke begins

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Apr. 10: The District Administration Office, Banke, has initiated steps to reform the Jayandu Juvenile Correction Centre located in Duduwa, Banke, which has been becoming increasingly disorderly and chaotic due to frequent conflicts, fights, and clashes between juvenile detainees.

In this effort, the first step has been to assess the current situation of the correctional home and seek suggestions for improvements from the detained juveniles, security personnel, and management, according to Dharma Raj Joshi, Chief District Officer of Banke.

CDO Joshi said that the initiative aims to identify the root causes behind the repeated conflicts and clashes in the juvenile home and to implement reforms to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Under this process, led by Chief District Officer Joshi, the district's security chiefs and rights activists have visited the juvenile centre to gather detail information about its current state and to interact with the detained juveniles to gather suggestions for improvements.

A few days ago, after a conflict among the juvenile detainees during Holi festival, a brawl occurred, which led to a clash with the police. 

The detainees pelted stones at the police and prevented them from entering the correctional home for over 15 hours. During this period, they set the facility on fire and caused extensive damage.

Since then, various security measures have been implemented. To assess the current situation, police chief of Banke, SP Tul Bahadur Karki, conducted a field visit and interacted with the juvenile detainees and the security personnel on duty.

SP Karki said that the situation at the juvenile home has now returned to normal, and all detainees are living peacefully without any conflicts.

During the inspection, rights activist and lawyer Basanta Gautam said that the situation in the home is improving, and the detained juveniles themselves confirmed that they are now living together peacefully.

During the discussions and interactions, the juveniles raised several concerns, including the mental stress they face due to their legal hurdles. They requested the need for yoga and meditation, sufficient life-enriching textbooks in the library, and the establishment of formal schooling.

On the occasion, Assistant Chief District Officer of Banke, Umakanta Adhikari, along with the heads of the Armed Police Force, National Investigation, and social activist Jagadutta Jaykesh Singh, were present.

Currently, there are 225 juvenile detainees at the Jayandu Juvenile Correction Centre, with the highest number being those accused of rape. The detainees range from 14 to 18 years old, with 28 juveniles aged 14 to 16, 134 juveniles aged 16 to 18, and 63 juveniles above 18 years old, according to Bimala Kaucha Magar, in-charge of the Centre.