Budgam: A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) constable and a Special Police Officer (SPO) deserted their respective units along with two AK-47 rifles and one INSAS rifle in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said Wednesday.
Officials said the SSB constable identified as Altaf Hussain, who was posted with 14th battalion of SSB at Nagam area of Budgam district, went missing along with his INSAS service rifle.
“A missing report has been filed at Chadoora police station and investigations have been started,” the official said, adding that a massive manhunt has been launched to track the missing SSB jawan.
Barely a few hours after the SSB constable deserted his camp, a Special Police Officer (SPO) identified as Altaf Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a resident of Qazipora, Chadoora in Budgam district, also went missing along with two AK-47 rifles and three magazines from the SoG camp in Chadoora, Budgam.
Officials said that Altaf has been working as SPO since past five years in J&K police. A police officer said that a high alert has been sounded in the district and all exit and entry points are maintaining a tight vigil.
“A massive manhunt has been launched across the district by all security agencies to track down the missing SSB man and the SPO,” officer said, adding, it seems the missing men may have been influenced by the terrorists and may have joined the militancy.
Talking to reporters in North Kashmir’s Handwara area, DGP Dilbagh Singh termed the incidents as unfortunate. “Such incidents are very unfortunate but we have initiated the process to track both SSB man and the SPO. We are sure, we will get them soon,” the J&K police chief said
