Kashmiri Army jawan missing; suspected to have joined militant ranks

Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, a resident of Pulwama, was reported absconding since Wednesday night

An Army jawan has gone missing along with his service rifle from a camp in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, a resident of Pulwama district in South Kashmir, was reported absconding since Wednesday night by the Army unit located in Gantmulla area of Baramulla, the officials said.

They said Thoker's service rifle and three magazines were also missing.

An alert has been sounded and security forces have been directed to remain vigilant as the jawan could have joined militant ranks, the officials said.