Militants abduct kin of 10 policemen in south Kashmir

Srinagar: Family members of 10 policemen, including some officers, have been kidnapped after militants raided the residences of various cops in south Kashmir on Thursday night.

The kidnapping spree by militants came just a day after police arrested several dozen people, including father of two militant commanders Riyaz Naiko and Lateef tiger, from south Kashmir.

A police official said they were trying to ascertain reports of abductions.

However, official sources told UNI that five people, whose family members were working in the J&K police, were abducted by militants in Kulgam on Thursday night.

They said militants also picked up four family members of policemen in Pulwama. In Shopian, family member of a policeman was kidnapped after militants raided their house.

Among those abducted included brother of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and a Sub Inspector (SI). Earlier on Wednesday, the son of a policeman was kidnapped from Tral.

Several dozen people were reportedly arrested by police on Wednesday night after four policemen were killed in a militant attack in Shopian.

Awami Itihad President and MLA Langate Er Abdul Rashid has appealed to militants to release the abducted persons. The MLA also condemned arrest of family members of militants and alleged burning of homes of ultras in south Kashmir by security forces.

Joint Resistance Leadership, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Miwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, on Thursday strongly condemned the alleged ploys being employed by the authorities to punish intimidate harass and humiliate the families of militants. They said these measures will only worsen the situation and turn it ugly and out of control. (UNI)