Policeman who decamped with four rifles joins Hizbul

SRINAGAR : A constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police who fled with four service rifles from Budgam district two days back has joined militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said on Monday.

A senior state intelligence officer said constable Syed Naveed Mushtaq, who decamped with four service rifles from Chandpora area where he was posted to guard a godown of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has joined the militant outfit.

A native of Nazneenpora village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, Naveed had joined the state police force in 2012.

Local media in Valley quoted Hizbul Mujahideen’s spokesman Burhan-ud-din as saying, “We welcome Syed Naveed (Mushtaq) Shah in our fold.”

The Hizbul’s statement also reportedly said that the outfit expected more local policemen to join the “freedom struggle”.

A police official also said that there were intelligence inputs suggesting that Mushtaq had joined the militant group.

There have been a number of instances of the policemen fleeing with service rifles and joining various militant outfits.

Over a year back, another cop Shakoor Ahmad, posted as personal security officer of a senior police officer had decamped with four rifles and had reportedly joined militant ranks. He was arrested about a month-and-ahalf later from Kulgam.

Earlier, constable Naseer Ahmed Pandit, a resident of Pulwama district, had decamped with two AK rifles on March 27, 2015 from the residence of PDP Minister Altaf Bukhari.

Meanwhile, on Sunday in a statement Hizbul Mujahideen had congratulated Naveed for snatching the weapons and said it welcomes him to its fold.

The militant organisation’s operational spokesperson Burhan-ud-din was quoted by local news agency CNS as saying: “We salute the valour and bravery of Naveed. He is a true soldier of freedom struggle and we salute him.”