A policeman who fled with four service rifles from Budgam district of Kashmir two days back has reportedly joined the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.
Constable Syed Naveed Mushtaq of Jammu and Kashmir Police had decamped with four INSAS rifles from Chandpora area where he was posted to guard a godown of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Local media quoted Hizbul Mujahideen's spokesman Burhan- ud-din as saying, "We welcome Syed Naveed (Mushtaq) Shah in our fold."
A police official said there were intelligence inputs suggesting that Mushtaq had joined the militant group.
Mushtaq, who had joined the police force as a constable in 2012, fled with his INSAS rifle and those of his three other colleagues posted at the godown on Saturday last.
There have been a number of instances of the policemen fleeing with service rifles and joining various militant outfits.
Over a year back, a policeman 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-a-half 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.
He was subsequently killed in an encounter in Shopian district in April 2016.
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