Srinagar, April 26: A Jammu businessman has shelled out Rs 85,000 for a car registration number of his choice. It’s AK 47.

The Jammu regional transport office said Mohammad Rafiq Mir’s bid for AK 47, a Russian assault rifle that is a favourite with militants in Kashmir, was the highest in the state for a vanity number.

Numbers like 5555, which are easily recognisable and easy to remember, are called vanity numbers.

“This is not a vanity number that people normally look for. But there were enquiries and five persons finally came forward to participate in the bidding,” a transport official said.

Mir, who has bought a new Honda City for Rs 11 lakh, said the bidding amount was not a concern.

“I was ready to pay more and am happy I got this registration number. The reason is obvious,” said Mir, who hails from Bathinda in Jammu.

His car number will read JK 02 AK 47.

The number AK 56 — another assault rifle that militants use — has sold for Rs 29,000.

Vanity numbers always have many bidders, sources at the regional transport office said.

“People also ask for the number 786, or a zero prefix or suffixed to it,” one officer said. Muslims consider the number an auspicious one.