Missing J&K cop joins Lashkar ranks

A missing Jammu and Kashmir police constable is alleged to have joined Lashkar ranks in the troubled south Kashmir.

Constable Ishfaq Ahmad was posted in Kathua and had gone on leave on October 23. However, he did not return home and was reported missing. On Friday, his pictures brandishing an AK 47 rifle appeared on social media, announcing that he has joined Lashkar-e-Toeba.

"We are investigating the case," said Afroz Ahmad, Additional Superintendent of Police, Shopian.

A 2010 recruit, Ishfaq was under the police scanner. They had, on purpose, posted him in Kargil, to keep a watch. Later, he was transferred to Kathua to keep him away from the anti-national elements operating in his village.

"He was under surveillance for quite some time over his separatist sympathies and that is why he was transferred to Kargil. Later, he was shifted to Kathua," said a police officer.

This is not the first time a cop has deserted the security forces to join a terror group. Sepoy Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, of 173 Territorial Army (Engineers), deserted his unit at Gantamulla in North Kashmir's Baramulla on July 6. Thokar also decamped with his AK 47 rifle and three magazines. He later joined Hizbul Mujhadeen.

In May this year, Constable Naveed Mushtaq decamped with fours rifles from the guard duty room of Food Corporation of India at Budgam and joined terror ranks.

Last year, Constable Shakoor Ahmad decamped with four AK 47 assault rifles from Bijbhera, allegedly to join a terror ranks in south Kashmir.