“People like Naveed are assets of the nation”
Srinagar: In yet another incident, a J&K police cop has joined the militant outfit Hizb ul Mujahideen, after he fled with at least four assault rifles, claimed the organization in a statement.
Syed Naveed Shah had been serving the JKP since four years.
On Saturday, Shah who had joined J&K Police in 2012 as a constable, fled his place of posting in Budgam district along with four rifles, including his own and the rest belonged to his colleagues who were not present in the Police station at that time.
They were supposed to safeguard a go-down of Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Shah hails from Shopian district.
Representational Picture
In January 2016, Shakoor Ahmad, another policeman who was posted as a Dy SP’s personal security officer in South Kashmir, decamped with four rifles. He was reported to have joined militant ranks and was arrested about a month-and-a-half later from Kulgam.
In 2015, Naseer Ahmad Pandit, a police constable from Pulwama, also joined the Hizbul Mujahideen after decamping with two rifles in March. He was earlier posted as a guard at then PWD minister and senior PDP leader Altaf Bukhari’s Srinagar residence.
Pandit was a part of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s group, and was among the 11 militants who posed with their weapons for a photograph that later went viral. He was killed in an encounter in Shopian district.
On Sunday, Hizb ul Mujahideen ‘congratulated’ police constable Syed Naveed Shah for snatching four rifles from the government forces.
Hizb’s Operational spokesperson, Burhan ud Din told a local news agency CNS that “they (Hizb) welcome Syed Naveed Shah in its fold.”
“People like Naveed are asset to the nation,” he said.
“We salute the valour and bravery of Naveed. He is a true soldier of the freedom struggle and we salute him,” he said and added that people like Naveed “will continue to join our struggle”.
