In the first case of its kind, an Army jawan decamped with a service rifle and some ammunition from his unit in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, forcing the authorities to sound an alert across the Valley, especially in Army installations.

Sepoy Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, of Sirnoo in Pulwama district, was posted with the 173 Battalion of the Territorial Army (Engineers) in Baramulla, the police said.

“Thokar deserted the Army on July 5-6 night. He has run away with a service assault rifle and three magazines,” an official said. “All field formations have been alerted,” an official communication of the police said. A top police officer said ground intelligence suggested that he might have joined the militants. “If it is confirmed that he has joined the militants, it will be the first such case,” the officer said. “However, there is no hard evidence at this point as we are still investigating.”