Baramulla Police traces missing UP girl in 2 hours, cracks theft in 24
Synopsis
Baramulla Police pulled off two rapid-response wins in a single day: a missing UP minor traced in under two hours via local community networks, and eight stolen deep freezers recovered with four arrests in under 24 hours. The girl's case also spotlights a troubling digital trail — online gaming platform 'Free Fire' and Snapchat as contact points that led a minor to travel hundreds of kilometres alone.
Key Takeaways
Baramulla Police traced a missing minor girl from Uttar Pradesh within two hours on 2 November 2026 .
The girl had travelled from UP to Jammu to Srinagar after contacting a boy via Snapchat while playing the game 'Free Fire' .
She was found at Murran Tangwari village and handed to the Child Welfare Committee, Baramulla .
In a separate case, all eight stolen deep freezers from Kanroo Enterprises were recovered and four persons arrested within 24 hours .
The stolen property was seized across multiple locations; the vehicle used — registration JK01AF-7379 — was also impounded.
Further investigation is underway to establish the full chain of offence in the theft case.
Jammu & Kashmir Police in Baramulla district demonstrated swift operational capability on Monday, 2 November 2026, tracing a missing minor girl from Uttar Pradesh within just two hours and cracking a major theft case involving eight stolen deep freezers within 24 hours. Both operations, according to the Kashmir Zone police, were driven by inter-district coordination and active community participation.
How the Missing Girl Was Found
The PCR Baramulla received a police signal on Monday regarding a minor girl originally reported missing from Barolia, Uttar Pradesh, whose last known location had been traced to Baramulla. The alert was promptly relayed to Police Station Chandoosa, which immediately circulated information among Beat Officers and launched coordinated search efforts.
With the assistance of the local Lambardar and Chowkidar, the missing minor was successfully located at Murran Tangwari village and brought to the police station within two hours of receiving the initial information. The operation highlights the continuing relevance of grassroots community structures in rapid police response.
During preliminary questioning, it emerged that the girl had travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Jammu and subsequently to Srinagar after coming into contact with a boy through the social media app Snapchat while playing the online game 'Free Fire'. The case raises fresh concerns about child safety risks associated with online gaming platforms and social media contact with strangers.
Following completion of necessary formalities, the minor was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Baramulla, through the Police Welfare Officer and accompanied by women police personnel, for her safety, care, and further action. Police Station Hassan Ganj in Uttar Pradesh was also notified.
Theft Case: Eight Deep Freezers Recovered, Four Arrested
In a separate but equally swift operation, Baramulla Police resolved a theft case within 24 hours, recovering all eight stolen deep freezers and arresting four accused persons. A written complaint had been filed by Nazir Ahmad Kanroo, owner of Kanroo Enterprises, reporting the theft of deep freezers from his warehouse at Gousia Colony, near Gulnar Park, Baramulla.
A case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at Police Station Baramulla. During technical analysis and questioning of suspects, Adil Hassan Dar, a resident of Zogiyar, Sheeri, disclosed his involvement and named his associates. Investigations further revealed that a pickup vehicle bearing registration number JK01AF-7379, driven by Arif Hussain Wani, was used to transport the stolen goods.
Multiple police teams were dispatched to different locations. The stolen freezers were recovered — five from the possession of Showkat Ahmad Dar alias Sahil, two from the shop of Asif Amin Tantary, and one from the residence of Wani. The vehicle was also seized and all four accused were arrested in accordance with due legal procedure.
Online Gaming and Child Safety: A Concern Police Cannot Ignore
The circumstances surrounding the missing girl's disappearance follow a pattern that has been flagged by child welfare organisations across India. Minors making contact with strangers via online gaming platforms and social media — and subsequently travelling alone to unknown locations — represent a growing vulnerability. This is not the first such case reported from the Jammu & Kashmir region, and law enforcement agencies have previously issued advisories urging parents to monitor their children's online activity.
Notably, the involvement of both Snapchat and the game Free Fire in facilitating the contact underlines how multiple digital platforms can function as access points in such cases.
What Happens Next
Further investigation into the theft case is ongoing to establish the complete chain of events and determine whether additional persons are involved, according to the Kashmir Zone police. The missing girl remains under the care of the Child Welfare Committee, Baramulla, as authorities in Uttar Pradesh have been informed. J&K Police reiterated their commitment to the safety of children and vulnerable sections of society in their official statement.
Point of View
But the missing girl's story deserves more scrutiny than a routine police success bulletin affords. A minor travelling hundreds of kilometres alone after online contact via a gaming app is a child protection failure that began well before police were alerted — it points to gaps at home, at school, and in the digital safety ecosystem. The theft resolution, while swift, is the more routine of the two wins. What the J&K Police statement does not address — and what policymakers should — is whether enough is being done to counsel families and schools about online grooming risks, particularly in districts where internet access has surged but digital literacy has not kept pace.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Baramulla Police trace the missing minor girl?
Baramulla Police traced the missing minor within two hours after receiving a signal about her last known location. PCR Baramulla relayed the alert to Police Station Chandoosa, which mobilised Beat Officers and, with help from the local Lambardar and Chowkidar, located the girl at Murran Tangwari village.
How did the minor girl end up in Baramulla from Uttar Pradesh?
According to preliminary questioning, the girl had come into contact with a boy through Snapchat while playing the online game 'Free Fire'. She subsequently travelled on her own from Uttar Pradesh to Jammu and then to Srinagar before being located in Baramulla.
What happened to the girl after she was found?
The minor was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Baramulla through the Police Welfare Officer, accompanied by women police personnel, for her safety, care, and further action. Police Station Hassan Ganj in Uttar Pradesh was also informed.
How was the Baramulla theft case solved within 24 hours?
Police registered a case after Nazir Ahmad Kanroo reported the theft of eight deep freezers from his warehouse at Gousia Colony, Baramulla. Through technical analysis and suspect questioning, police identified Adil Hassan Dar as a key accused, recovered all eight freezers from multiple locations, seized the vehicle used (JK01AF-7379), and arrested four persons.
Who were the accused arrested in the Baramulla theft case?
Four persons were arrested: Adil Hassan Dar of Zogiyar, Sheeri; Arif Hussain Wani, who drove the pickup vehicle; Showkat Ahmad Dar alias Sahil, from whose possession five freezers were recovered; and Asif Amin Tantary, from whose shop two freezers were recovered. Further investigation is ongoing.
