Srinagar, Aug 23 - The Jammu and Kashmir government has begun a probe into a possible 'insider's hand' in the disappearance of a top guerrilla commander who gave police the slip before he could be re-arrested on other terror charges, well informed sources said Sunday.

Nisar Bhat, who uses his code name Gazi Misbahuddin as the chief operational commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, was bailed out by a court in a particular case Wednesday. But he was to be held again for other terror charges pending against him, according to the police.

Five officers, including a senior intelligence official, have been put under suspension for their failure to re-arrest Bhat who was in police custody since Dec 6, 2007.

He was given bail by a south Kashmir court after the prosecution failed to prove the charges against him. Before he could be re-arrested outside the court, the militant commander disappeared fast, leaving top police and intelligence officials in the valley red-faced.

'The officials have been suspended for dereliction of duty and negligence and a high level probe has been ordered if an insider's hand was behind the conspiracy that led to the police's failure in re-arresting Gazi,' a source, privy to the development, told IANS.

'It's a serious negligence and many policemen are under the scanner,' the source said pleading anonymity as the entire matter is being kept secret because the police failure has caused the government much embarrassment.