New Delhi: Even as investigation agencies and the Centre are stepping up pressure on separatist leaders and militant groups alike, senior Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police officials stated that one of its members has joined the Hizbul Mujahideen ranks.
On 20 May, J&K police constable Syed Naveed Mushtaq Shah decamped with four service rifles from a police post in Kashmir’s Budgam district. However, the Hizbul has now released a statement claiming that it had “welcomed Naveed” to their fold.
The state police have been dealing with this security breach even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched its preliminary enquiry (PE) into Hurriyat leaders’ links across the border to fund terrorism in Kashmir on 19 May.
While NIA officials in New Delhi stated that “it is probing all aspects of funding of separatist leaders and use of these funds in fuelling the unrest in the Valley,” the state police apparatus has been reeling from the shock of this breach.
“The fact that he has decamped with the weapons and the Hizbul released its statement, shows that in all probability he must have joined their ranks. We are trying our best to track him down and ascertain what his motives were,” said a senior J&K police official.
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