Alert residents in Rajgarh town of Rajasthan's Churu district helped law enforcement officials capture two dangerous undertrial prisoners who had escaped from the high-security Srinagar Central Jail in Jammu and Kashmir. The escapees were discovered sleeping inside an agricultural field, prompting local villagers to notify the police after suspecting potential criminal behavior.
Breakout Hatched During Independence Day Preparations
The apprehended fugitives have been identified as Farman, a native of Rajgarh in Churu, Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Gurjar, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir. Both individuals were incarcerated in Srinagar Central Jail as undertrials facing grave criminal charges, including allegations under the POCSO Act and rape.
While held in judicial custody, the two men established a close connection and conspired to execute a prison escape. Taking advantage of the busy environment inside the facility during preparations for Independence Day events, they managed to procure a length of rope and a tall pole. On the morning of August 23 at approximately 6:00 AM, the duo used the pole and rope to scale the high perimeter wall of the prison complex and successfully fled from custody.
Looted Cash from Woman After Jailbreak to Fund Travel
Immediately after breaking out of the high-security facility, the fugitives realized they lacked sufficient funds to support their getaway. To finance their travel, they targeted a local woman in Jammu and Kashmir shortly after escaping, robbing her of ₹8,000.
Using the stolen money, they traversed multiple state borders while evading law enforcement agencies. Because Farman was originally from Rajgarh in Rajasthan, the duo decided that hiding in the rural outskirts of his hometown would offer them safe cover, prompting them to make the long journey from Kashmir to Churu district.
Villagers Suspect Criminal Intent and Alert Local Station
On the morning of August 26, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Rajgarh police station received urgent information from local farmers. The villagers reported that two unfamiliar men were sleeping in a field in suspicious circumstances, suspecting that they might be thieves looking to commit a crime in the area.
A police team dispatched from Rajgarh station reached the spot swiftly and detained both individuals. Due to their suspicious presence and lack of clear identification, police initially arrested them under Section 151 as a preventive safety measure before transporting them to the station for interrogation.
Interrogation Confirms High-Security Breakout
During detailed questioning at the police station, the detainees confessed their true identities as Farman and Mukhtar Gurjar, revealing that they were on the run following the high-profile August 23 jailbreak from Srinagar Central Jail.
Rajgarh police immediately cross-referenced the claims with official messages from Jammu and Kashmir Police, who verified that both men were indeed wanted escapees. Following formal confirmation, a specialized team of Jammu and Kashmir Police officers was dispatched to Rajasthan to take physical custody of the fugitives and escort them back for trial.
