An army personnel who was reportedly posted as PSO of Major Shukla was kidnapped from a private passenger vehicle near Kalampora between Shadimarg and Shopian on Thursday afternoon, local reports said.

A local report identified the abducted army personnel as Aurangzaib, a resident of Pir Panchal region. The report said that Aurangzaib had gone on Eid holidays. Army and police have launched a massive manhunt to trace the missing soldier.

A senior police officer confirmed the incident. He said the army men at the 44-RR garrison had handed over the man to a pharmacist who was on way to his duty. The pharmacist was identified as Farooq Ahmad Allai, a resident of Kadlabal Pampore.

As Allia drove ahead he was stopped by some gunmen. They beat him and took the man away. He later reported to the Rajpora police station detailing the incident. Police said he did not know the person who he was driving was a soldier.

Auragzaib was posted as the personal guard of Major Shukla, the army officer who killed top militant Sameer Tiger. Reports said he was injured in the incident.