Two undertrial prisoners detained in separate cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act escaped from the Central Jail, Srinagar on Sunday, prompting a large-scale search operation by police and security agencies, officials said.
Escape and identities
The men who absconded have been identified as Farman Khan, a resident of Sadanpora in Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmed Gujar of Sanglan Chittergul in Anantnag district, according to official sources. The two are reported to have scaled the front-side wall of the high-security prison and fled the premises on August 23.
Khan had been lodged in the Srinagar facility on June 23 in connection with a first information report registered at Lar police station in Ganderbal district. The FIR includes various provisions of the local penal code and sections 3 and 4 (penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act, officials said. Gujar was reportedly held in the jail since April 13 in relation to a separate FIR registered at Soura police station in Srinagar, also under multiple penal provisions and sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act.
Security arrangements and response
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were guarding the jail. The CISF was deployed to provide armed cover to the Srinagar Central Jail in October 2023 and is responsible for securing inner and outer perimeters, modern surveillance systems and access control at the complex, officials said.
Following the escape, Jammu and Kashmir police launched a manhunt and issued look-out notices at all exit points of Kashmir. A wanted notice for the two men has been put out and a reward announced for information that leads to their arrest, officials added. The public has been urged to contact the nearest police station or dial 112 with any relevant information.
- Names of escapees: Farman Khan (Sadanpora, Rajasthan) and Mukhtar Ahmed Gujar (Sanglan Chittergul, Anantnag).
- Charges: Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act (penetrative sexual assault) among other provisions in separate FIRs.
- Custody dates: Khan lodged on June 23; Gujar lodged on April 13.
“Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the duo,” officials said, adding that look-out notices had been issued at all exit points of Kashmir.
Investigation and public appeal
Police stated that teams have been deployed across Srinagar and neighbouring districts to trace the fugitives. Checkpoints and frisking points have been intensified in urban and rural approaches to the city, sources said. Investigators are reviewing jail records, CCTV footage and routine logs to determine the precise time and method of escape.
Officials emphasised that any information, however small, could assist in locating the escapees. They asked citizens to report sightings or leads directly to local police stations or through the emergency number. A reward for actionable intelligence has been publicly announced, the police said.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Facility | Central Jail, Srinagar (CISF cover since Oct 2023) |
| Escape date | 23 August 2026 |
| Registered charges | Sections 3 & 4 POCSO (penetrative sexual assault) and other IPC/BNS provisions |
The incident places renewed scrutiny on security protocols at the Central Jail in Srinagar, which, as officials note, is staffed and covered by both jail authorities and central security contingents. Authorities have said inquiries are ongoing to establish whether procedural lapses or external assistance played any role in the escape. Further details are awaited as investigations proceed.
Police reiterated their appeal for cooperation from the public and said those with information should contact the nearest police station or call 112.
