In a major security contravene, a policeman decamped with four service rifles from the residence of a top police officer on Friday night. The police have launched a manhunt to trace him. Officials told CNS that Shakoor Ahmed Parrey son of Muhamma Sidiq vide belt number 689 was posted as Personal Security Officer (PSO) to SDPO Bijbehara Irshad Ahmad Bhat in Bijbehara area of Anantnag districtdecamped with four service rifles on Friday night. Shakoor, a resident of Kundlan Shopian had recently been transferred from Awantipora and posted police officers house.
Pertinently, SDPO Bijbehara Irshad Ahmed Bhat recently was seriously injured in a militant attack and during to time of the attack the fugitive cop was accompanying him. Police sources told CNS that shortly after the Bijbehara attack, Shakoor was questioned by top ranking police officers who accuse of acting as mute spectator during the attack. Sources said that during the questioning the fugitive cop had claimed that during the militant attack in Bijbehara, his service rifle had slipped from his hand as a result he could not retaliate to the militant attack.
Sources added that Police raided Shakoor’s house in South Kashmir but could not find him there. A police official confirmed that Shakoor had decamped with four rifles. “The investigation has been started,” he said and admitted that it is a major security breach. Sources said there is possibility the policeman, who joined the department in 2011, could have joined hands with militants. Shakoor according to a police official was converted from SPO to Constable in 2015.Pertinently, on 29 May last year a policeman Naseer Ahmad Pandit guarding the house of the then J&K roads and building minister Altaf Bukhari decamped with two rifles. Later on militant out Hizbul Mujhadeen claimed that Pandit joined them. (CNS)