Two undertrial inmates who escaped from the high-security Central Jail in Srinagar on August 23 have been arrested in the Rajgarh area of Churu district, Rajasthan. The apprehension was made possible through the collaboration of local authorities and the Rajasthan Police.
The Srinagar Police launched a large-scale manhunt immediately after the breakout, deploying technical surveillance and tracking efforts across multiple regions. Officials have confirmed the arrests, and police teams from Srinagar have already left for Rajasthan to escort both men back to Jammu and Kashmir. Police had issued lookout notices, announced rewards for information leading to their arrest, and appealed to the public for tips.
Continuous monitoring eventually located the duo in Rajgarh, where they were taken into custody. The escapees are Farman Khan, a resident of Sadanpora, Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmed Gujar, a resident of Sanglan Chittergul in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Both were undertrials in separate cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act—specifically sections dealing with penetrative sexual assault—along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The successful apprehension three days after the escape ends the immediate manhunt. However, investigations into the jailbreak itself continue, as the breach at what is regarded as the most secure jail in Jammu and Kashmir has raised serious questions about security arrangements. The incident has raised sharp questions regarding surveillance, perimeter checks, physical infrastructure, watchtower manning, real-time monitoring, and possible procedural or human-factor lapses.
Farman Khan had been lodged in the jail since June 23, 2026, in connection with an FIR registered at the Lar police station in Ganderbal district. Mukhtar Ahmed Gujar had been in custody since April 13, 2026, linked to an FIR at the Soura police station in Srinagar. Despite this enhanced security cover, the two inmates managed to scale the front wall on the morning of August 23 and escape. Authorities aim to address any identified gaps swiftly to prevent a similar breach at a facility housing more than 500 inmates, many of whom pose a serious threat to public safety and national security.
