The service rifles of two police personnel went missing in separate incidents in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, prompting a massive hunt for the culprits - one of whom is believed to be the driver of a BJP leader.
Constable Manzoor Ahmad, the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of BJP leader Gulzar Ahmad Nengroo, reported that his service rifle was missing from the house of the politician in Pulwama, 32 km from here, and suspected the hand of Nengroo's driver Shabir Ahmad Sofi, a police official said.
He said constable Manzoor Ahmad reported the incident yesterday and efforts are on to recover the rifle.
"Sofi is missing and is believed to have fled with the service rifle," the officer said.
He said another policeman, posted at the Pulwama district hospital, reported that his service rifle was taken away by unidentified persons from the guard room today.
An investigation is going on and further details are awaited, the officer said.
Earlier in March, a security guard of a state minister went missing along with two automatic rifles here and joined the militant ranks.
