Two undertrial prisoners escaped from the high-security Central Jail Srinagar, triggering a major search operation and increased security checks in Jammu and Kashmir. The two men were Farman Khan, a resident of Sadanpora in Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmad Gujjar, a resident of Sanglan Chittergul in Anantnag district. Police have since put out lookout notices and intensified efforts to find and catch the two escapees, sources said.
The incident took place Sunday when the two prisoners climbed the front-side wall of the high-security prison. Their escape triggered a wider security response by checking exits and identifying where the suspects went after they left the jail.
Farman Khan and Mukhtar Ahmad Gujjar were in Central Jail Srinagar in connection with separate cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, or POCSO, Act. Khan was in connection with a case registered at Lar Police Station in Ganderbal district and Gujjar was in connection with another case registered at Soura Police Station in Srinagar. Both are undertrial accused, and the cases against them will go through judicial proceedings.
Following the escape, Kashmir Zone Police issued lookout notices and started a manhunt. Security checks at many locations and exit points were stepped up to prevent the escapees from moving any further away. Police also asked people to come forward and give credible information to help them find the two men so that they could get them arrested.
The fact that one of the escapees is from Rajasthan added an interstate dimension to the investigation. Farman Khan's Rajasthan connection was particularly relevant as investigators explored whether the accused might move outside Jammu and Kashmir after the jailbreak. Cooperation between different states in such cases is important when investigators believe an accused may have crossed state borders.
The incident has also raised questions about security arrangements at Central Jail Srinagar. The jail is a high-security facility, so the escape is a major security risk. But how the prisoners climbed the wall and if there were any failures in the security of the perimeter or prison procedures will be investigated.
Officials insist that search efforts to find the escapees are still ongoing. Security checks are still going on after the jailbreak and police are searching for the two men, according to reports from August 26. At the time of those reports, authorities did not publicly confirm a completed arrest in Rajasthan, so the thinking that both escapees had already been arrested should be taken seriously unless an official police announcement is made.
The case is getting so much attention for the charges of the two undertrials and the security implications of an escape from a high-security prison. The jailbreak and the accused are under investigation too, the authorities said.
Police have suggested to residents who have reliable information about the whereabouts of Farman Khan or Mukhtar Ahmad Gujjar to contact the nearest police station or dial 112 rather than approach them directly. This allows trained authorities to respond safely.
The investigation will focus on reconstructing the sequence of the escape, identifying possible security gaps and how the two men travelled after leaving the prison. Jammu and Kashmir Police will be crucial to establish whether the suspects have been located and arrested.
As of the latest available reports, the confirmed development is that two Central Jail Srinagar undertrials escaped and a major manhunt has been launched. The police are still trying to catch them and the investigation is wider than Jammu and Kashmir because one of the accused is from Rajasthan.
