A major inter-state police operation has successfully led to the recapture of two prisoners who escaped from Srinagar Central Jail in Jammu and Kashmir. The fugitives, both facing charges under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), managed to flee the prison on 23 August 2026 by scaling its front wall. However, their run from the law ended just three days later when law enforcement authorities apprehended them in the Rajgarh area of Churu district in Rajasthan, nearly 1,000 kilometers away from the prison facility.
Prison Break Executed by Scaling Front Wall
The security breach occurred on 23 August 2026, when the two inmates scaled the boundary wall of the Srinagar Central Jail complex. The escaped individuals were identified as Farman Khan, son of Abdul Gani Khan, hailing from Sadanpora in Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmad Gurjar, son of Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Sanglan Chittargul in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir. Immediately after the discovery of their escape, security was heightened across Jammu and Kashmir, and an urgent inquiry was launched.
Massive Search Operation, Lookout Notices, and Cash Rewards
In response to the jailbreak, the Srinagar Police launched a comprehensive search operation to track down the fugitives. To prevent them from fleeing further, authorities issued nationwide lookout notices and announced cash rewards for any verified information that could assist in their capture. Using electronic intelligence, surveillance, and human sources, investigators traced the movement of the fugitives to Rajasthan. Coordinating swiftly with Rajasthan Police, a specialized unit conducted a raid in the Rajgarh locality of Churu district, successfully taking both men into custody.
Details of POCSO and BNS Charges Faced by Inmates
Both captured individuals are accused of serious offenses involving sexual misconduct and abduction. Farman Khan was booked under FIR No. 19/2026 containing Sections 137(2) and 87 of the BNS alongside provisions of the POCSO Act, and he had been remanded to Srinagar Central Jail on 23 June 2026. Mukhtar Ahmad Gurjar faced charges under FIR No. 20/2026 with Sections 137(2) and 65(1) of the BNS and POCSO Act provisions, having been incarcerated in the same facility since 13 April 2026.
Fugitive Profiles and Next Legal Steps
The profile details of the two re-arrested prisoners are summarized below
- Farman Khan: Son of Abdul Gani Khan; resident of Sadanpora, Rajasthan. FIR No. 19/2026; Sections 137(2), 87 BNS & POCSO Act. Incarcerated since 23 June 2026.
- Mukhtar Ahmad Gurjar: Son of Mohammad Rafiq; resident of Sanglan Chittargul, Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir. FIR No. 20/2026; Sections 137(2), 65(1) BNS & POCSO Act. Incarcerated since 13 April 2026.
Police officials confirmed that essential legal formalities are being completed with local judicial authorities in Rajasthan. Following the acquisition of transit remand, the custody of both accused will be transferred back to Srinagar, where additional criminal proceedings regarding their prison escape will be initiated alongside their existing trials.
