A cop of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on guard duty with a state BJP leader ran way along with his service rifle in Rafiabad area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday.

Sources said special police officer (SPO), identified as Waseem Ahmad, fled with the rifle of another police constable Dilshad Ahmad.

He was posted on guard duty with Mohammad Maqbool War alias Maqbool Vakil, a local BJP leader.

"It is learnt that one SPO namely Waseem Ahmed, a resident of Shatloo, Panzala has stolen a weapon from the personal security officer (PSO) of a protected person in Sopore. Police have started an investigation into the matter after registration of a case," a police spokesperson said.

SPOs are recruited by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on a fixed monthly remuneration of Rs 6,000. 

Sources said the SPO might have joined militancy like several other policemen who ran away along with service rifles in the last three years.

In May last year, a policeman decamped with four assault rifles from a post in central Kashmir's Budgam district and later joined the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.