Srinagar, Jan 16 (IANS): The police in Jammu and Kashmir has issued an alert after one of its constables in Anantnag district disappeared along with four service rifles.

"A policeman, who was the personal security guard of an officer injured in a firing incident last month, has decamped with four assault rifles from Bijbehara (Anantnag)," a senior police officer told IANS on Saturday. 

Constable Mashooq Ahmad failed to report for duty at the office of the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) at Bijbehara for two days, raising suspicion, he said.

"A check in the police station premises led to the discovery that four AK assault rifles were missing. It is suspected that the constable has decamped with the rifles."

An alert has been issued in south Kashmir area to trace the cop.

Mashooq was a member of the personal security escort of Deputy Superintendent of Police Irshad Ahmad who was injured in a militant attack during a Milad procession at Bijbehara on December 24. 

The police is not ruling out the constable's involvement in the militant attack.