Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: A high alert was sounded in Jammu City and its outskirts tonight after two suspects from the Kashmir valley snatched an AK-47 rifle from a police constable at Tawi bridge. While one of them decamped with the weapon, another was arrested by the police from the spot along with a bike.
“A very high alert has been sounded in entire Jammu City and outskirts to track down the suspect, who has escaped with deadly assault rifle of the police constable. All police stations and nakas have been asked to intensify surveillance in all vulnerable areas to ensure that the suspect didn’t manage to escape,’’ police said.
Police constable Mohammad Hanief, 50, son of Mohammad Subhan Sheikh, a resident of Banihal, presently putting up at Belicharana had been posted as Personal Security Officer with Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool chairman Maulana Dehlavi. He was on way to District Police Lines (DPL) on foot after leaving Dehlavi, who is on a visit to Jammu, at Guest House near Canal Road.
Two Kashmiri suspects, riding on motor-cycle No. 7273 JK02AH, intercepted the PSP, hit him on head with a stick and threw chili powder in his eyes around 10.30 pm. They snatched AK-47 rifle of the constable and fled away.
However, police parties swiftly came into action after getting the report of gun snatching and nabbed one of the accused along with the bike. The arrested suspect has been identified as Masrool Ahmad son of Abdul Rashid R/o Ratnipora, Shopian. The Pulsar bike has been seized.
Masrool has disclosed identity of his associate as Asif son of Mohammad Ali Shah R/o Banpora, Shopian. He was absconding with AK-47 rifle of the police constable.
The injured police constable has been admitted in the Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu but his condition was stated to be stable.
Police said Masrool Ahmad has disclosed during preliminary questioning that he along with his associate had been roaming in the City for the past four to five days.
However, police didn’t say immediately as to whether the accused were militants or intoxicated.
“We are questioning Masrool Ahmad to reach to the second accused, whose arrest is very vital as he was in possession of AK-47 rifle and could create problems,’’ police said but added that nakas at all the places were maintaining high alert to nab the absconder and recover the weapon from him.
Police said both the accused seemed to have intentions to snatch the weapon which was evident from the fact that they were carrying stick type bat with them and chili powder, which they used to hit the police constable, render him unconscious and escape with weapon.
Top police officers were camping at different places after visiting the spot.
Bottom of FormTop of FormBottom of FormMaulana Dehlavi, who reached here this afternoon after wrapping up his Kashmir visit, was scheduled to address media here tomorrow, The official vehicle dropped Dehlavi at the State Guest House at around 9.30 pm following which the driver and the PSO left the place.Dehlavi has also condemned the attack on his PSO.
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