A Kashmir constable by the name of Syed Naveed Mushtaq had reportedly gone missing from the Budgam district of Kashmir on Saturday. The constable who hailed from the Pulwama district was deployed to guard the godowns of Food corporation of India at Chandpora in Budgam district.
After he went missing, a manhunt was launched by the police authorities on suspicion of him deserting the force to join the terrorists. What fueled this theory further was the fact that he had taken with him four self-loading rifles and ammunition.
According to the police, the terrorists were facing a shortage of armaments and that the cop would not have an issue contacting them as the his cousin too was believed to be one.
Unfortunately their fears were confirmed and according to reports the Hizbul Mujahideen confirmed the joining of constable Syed Naveed Mushtaq. A spokesperson for the Mujahideen apparently told the Kashmir News Service over phone that:
Our field operational commander, Mehmood Ghaznavi, has welcomed Syed Naveed for joining the militant organization to fight Indian occupational forces in Kashmir
And he also confirmed that he had also brought with him the 4 rifles in question.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred in Kashmir. In 2015 another constable also hailing from the Pulwama district had fled with two AK-47 from the residence of PDP minister Altaf Bukhari. He was subsequently killed in an encounter in April 2016.
The Hizbul Mujahideen which has been declared a terror outfit by India was also in the news recently after the Jammu and Kashmir police identified its local module which was reportedly responsible for the death of Lt Ummer Fayaz.