Militants have released the relatives of policemen, whom they had abducted from various places in south Kashmir, official sources said on Friday, 31 August.
At least eight people, whose relatives were working in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, were abducted on the night of 30 August by militants. According to sources, all those who were abducted have been released.
However, a senior police official told PTI that they are yet to check whether those abducted had returned home.
Unconfirmed reports said the total number of kidnapped kin of policemen was 11.
Officials said at least eight people were picked up by militants from Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Awantipora.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo had purportedly claimed responsibility for the abduction in a 12-minute-long clip, issuing a three-day deadline for the release of all relatives of militants who are in police custody,
Naikoo's Father Released by J&K Police
The abducted kin's release could have been in the aftermath of the Jammu and Kashmir Police's release of Asadullah Naikoo, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo's father,
Azadullah was picked up by security forces on 30 August for questioning, after he was detained following raids.
"We had called him for questioning as he is closely associated with his son, who is an active militant. We have to keep a track of people known to militants but he has not been arrested," an officer told PTI.
Naikoo was released later on 31 August, following an interrogation.
Two SPOs Resign Following Abduction
Meanwhile, two special police officers in the Jammu and Kashmir force announced their resignation following the spate of abductions. The two officers reportedly announced their resignation in the Masjids in Tral and Qazigund areas of the state.
According to Kashmiriyat, SPO Bilal Ahmed Kumar announced his resignation following the Firday prayers at Midoora in Tral, while SPO Faizal Ahmed Shah of Qazigund tendered his resingation in Qazigund. The duo handed over letters, containing their decision to quit, to the Imams in their local masjids following the Friday prayers.
SPO Faizal Ahmed Shah is the brother of Zohra, the girl whose photo showing her inconsolable at her father's funeral – also a policeman – went viral, prompting former cricketer Gautam Gambhir to adopt her and sponsor her education.
What Happened on the Night of 30 August?
Militants struck at various places in south Kashmir on Thursday, 30 August, and abducted at least eight family members of police personnel from various locations in the state, The Hindu reported.
Police did not immediately give any official statement and said they were trying to ascertain reports of abductions.
“We are investigating these raids. Details are sketchy. Four to seven persons have been kidnapped,” a police official told The Hindu.
The sources added that brothers of two policemen, identified as Inspector Nazir Ahmad and Mehmad Ahmad, in Anantnag’s Arwani were kidnapped from their residences in militant raids.
The militants' action came on a day when the NIA arrested the second son of wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin. Earlier, the same day, security forces had conducted similar raids at militants’ houses and consequently made arrests, including that of Hizbul Mujahideen ‘operational commander’ Riyaz Naikoo’s father.
Sources told NDTV that the kidnappings were a pressure tactic in retaliation to the arrests made by police. A senior police officer added that the police is working to ensure safety of the kin of policemen.
On Wednesday, the son of a policeman was also kidnapped from Tral. In a video, the family made a desperate appeal for the release of their child, the NDTV report said.
(With inputs from NDTV, The Hindu, PTI)
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