A policeman deployed on the security of a PWD Minister’s residence in Srinagar has decamped with his service rifle sending the security forces on tizzy in the summer capital. Sources said Naseer Ahmad Pandit, a policeman detailed with security wing of J&K Police was guarding the residence of Roads & Buildings Minister Altaf Bukhari for past three weeks.
He decamped with two AK-47 rifles from his duties on Saturday and was not traceable, police sources said. A colleague of Naseer had gone to offer prayers and had left his rifle with him. Naseer fled with his as well as his colleague’s rifle. Pandit belonging to Karimabad village of Pulwama has no history of association with militant groups. He has joined the police force in 2007.
Police said they have initiated investigations. It was not clear whether the cop has joined militant ranks or he had some other motive for the act. “There is no reason to panic and no need to sound an alert. We have registered a case and investigations are on. We have constituted a special team to trace him and hopefully he will be nabbed,” Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Javed Gilani said.