Srinagar, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two men facing separate cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, who escaped from Srinagar Central Jail on August 23, were arrested in Rajasthan on Wednesday, officials said.
The accused, identified as Farman Khan and Mukhtar Gujjar, were apprehended following information shared by Srinagar Police, officials said. Further investigation into the case is underway.
The two inmates had allegedly escaped from the high-security prison after scaling its front-side wall, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale manhunt.
Khan is a resident of Sadanpora, Rajasthan, while Gujjar belongs to Sanglan Chittergul in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
According to officials, Khan had been lodged in Srinagar Central Jail since June 23 in connection with an FIR registered at Lar police station in Ganderbal district. The case was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act relating to penetrative sexual assault.
Gujjar was lodged in the jail on April 13 in connection with a separate FIR registered at Soura police station in Srinagar. He was also booked under various BNS provisions and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act.
Following their escape, police issued wanted notices for both men and announced a reward for information leading to their arrest. The public was also asked to provide information to the nearest police station or dial 112.
Srinagar Central Jail is guarded by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which was deployed to provide armed security to the facility in October 2023. The CISF also guards the Central Jail in Jammu.
The force is responsible for securing the inner and outer perimeters of the sensitive facilities using trained personnel, surveillance systems and access-control measures.
The circumstances surrounding the inmates’ escape and the security lapses, if any, are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
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