J&K cop flees with 4 AKs, may have joined militants

In the second such incident in recent months, a Jammu and Kashmir policeman has decamped with four AK-47 rifles and is suspected to have joined militants’ ranks.

Two of his friends from their native village in southern Shopian district are also reported missing since Wednesday.

Police sources said that Shakoor Ahmed, a personal security officer (PSO) of deputy superintendent of police and sub-district police officer (Bijbehara) Irshad Ahmed Rather, walked away from duty at the latter’s residence in the highway town of Bijbehara, 45 km south of here, and took with him four service weapons on Friday night. Mr Rather and his other PSO Tanveer Ahmed were seriously injured in a sneak militant attack on December 24.

Police sources said Ahmed may have joined militants’ ranks as two of his friends from their native village Kundlan have also gone missing since Wednesday.

A massive manhunt has been launched for the deserter cop and the weapons, IG police (Kashmir range) S.J.M. Gillani said.

The sources also said that investigations will also look into the possibility of the cop’s role in the December 24 attack.