Jammu and Kashmir: Suspected militants abduct, kill three policemen in Shopian district
The brother of one of the officers was also abducted but was later released, reports said.
Three policemen, who were abducted by suspected militants from their homes in Batagund and Kapren villages of Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday night, were found dead on Friday, Greater Kashmir reported. The bullet-ridden bodies were recovered from Dangam village in Shopian.
The policemen were identified as Firdous Kuchay, Kulwant Singh and Nisar Ahmad. The brother of one of these officers was also abducted but he was later released, reports said.
Several Jammu and Kashmir policemen have resigned through the day, according to reports. But the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday dismissed these as false statements and propaganda.
We have lost 3 of our brave colleagues in a barbaric terror strike. Our tribute to the 3 martyred Jawans Nisar Ahmad, Firdous Kuchay & Kulwant Singh. We condemn this inhuman act and assure that all the culprits shall be dealt under law. @JmuKmrPolice
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) September 21, 2018
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed the latest incident shows that the Centre’s “muscular policy” is not working. “Three more policemen have lost their lives to militant bullets” the Peoples Democratic Party chief said on Twitter. “Outrage, shock and condemnation will be expressed by all of us on expected lines. Unfortunately, it brings no solace to the families of the victims.”
In another tweet, she added: “Clearly, with the rise in kidnapping of police personnel and their families, Centre’s muscular policy is not working at all. Dialogue, the only way forward, seems to be a distant dream for now.”
Three more policemen have lost their lives to militant bullets. Outrage, shock & condemnation will be expressed by all of us on expected lines. Unfortunately, it brings no solace to the families of the victims. 1/2
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 21, 2018
Militants are desperate and so, are fighting back with such killings, an official from the Home Ministry told NDTV. “Terrorists are under pressure as they are not able to execute anything big. Protest politics and stone-pelting has come down. So they are taking out their frustration by targeting policemen in their houses,” the official was quoted as saying.
At least 12 Kashmiris, mostly civilian relatives of policemen and a few policemen themselves, were abducted by militants across the southern districts in August-end.
The Hizbul Mujahideen, the group which claimed responsibility, said this raft of abductions was a response to recent instances of alleged harassment by security forces and the burning of militants’ houses. All those abducted were released by September 1.