Jammu/Ludhiana/Ambala, February 17-18, 2026 — Two Pakistani nationals, who dramatically escaped from a Juvenile Observation Home in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranbir Singh Pura (RS Pura) area on Monday evening, were swiftly arrested in Punjab, officials confirmed.
The escape occurred around 5:30 PM on February 16 at the Juvenile Observation Home near the International Border. The trio — including two Pakistani nationals and one local inmate — allegedly assaulted two on-duty police personnel, injuring Special Police Officer Vinay Kumar and Head Constable Parveen Kumar. The incident, captured on CCTV, involved the use of a country-made pistol, heightening security concerns in the sensitive border region.
The escapees were identified as:
- Ahsan Anwar (21), son of Mohammad Anwar, resident of Nankana Sahib, Punjab Province, Pakistan (detained since 2019 after crossing the border).
- Mohammad Sanaullah (also reported as Mohammad Sanula, 20), son of Mohammad Zaffer, resident of Basti Jawewala, Tehsil Dinpur, Muzaffargarh/Muzaffarabad area, Pakistan (detained since 2021).
- Karanjit Singh alias Gugga, a local from Dablehar village in RS Pura, associated with a criminal network (lodged in 2025 in connection with a murder case).
A massive manhunt was launched by Jammu and Kashmir Police, involving checkpoints, raids, and coordination with neighboring states. The two Pakistani nationals were tracked and apprehended within 24 hours — reports indicate arrests in Ludhiana (Punjab) by a joint J&K-Punjab Police team, and alternatively by Haryana’s Special Task Force (STF) at Ambala Cantt Railway Station premises. They were handed over to J&K Police for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Their apparent plan was to travel by train to Uttar Pradesh and then cross into Nepal via the UP-Nepal border. The third escapee, Karanjit Singh alias Gugga (believed to be the mastermind), remains at large, with search operations ongoing.
Security has been tightened at the facility, and an inquiry has been initiated into the lapse, with several police personnel reportedly suspended for alleged dereliction of duty.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in border security and juvenile detention management in the region. Further details are awaited from official statements.
