Two inmates arrested under POCSO Act escape from Srinagar Central Jail; search launched
Two inmates accused of sexual offenses under the POCSO Act have escaped from the high-security Srinagar Central Jail. Authorities have launched a massive manhunt and issued a public notice to assist in the recapture of the fugitives.
Why it matters
The escape raises significant security concerns regarding the efficacy of high-security prison protocols and the oversight of the Central Industrial Security Force in sensitive regions.
Two inmates booked in separate cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act escaped from the Central Jail in Srinagar on Sunday (August 23, 2026) after scaling the front-side wall of the high-security prison, officials said.
The escaped inmates have been identified as Farman Khan, a resident of Sadanpora, Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmed Gujar, a resident of Sanglan Chittergul in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, the officials said.
A massive manhunt was launched to trace and apprehend the escaped inmates, they said, adding that further details regarding the circumstances of their escape from the jail were awaited.
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