Srinagar: Three policemen were abducted from their homes in south Kashmir’s Shopian district and shot dead in cold blood by the Hizbul Mujahideen Friday, police said as a new page opened up in the three-decade chapter of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Hizbul Mujahideen is believed to be responsible for the killings, which also shook the 1.2 lakh strong Jammu and Kashmir police force with at least six special police officers (SPOs) announcing their resignations on social media, officials said.
The bodies of the slain policemen — identified as constable Nissar Ahmed and special police officers Firdous Ahmed and Kulwant Singh — were found in an orchard across a river, they said.
A video purportedly from the Hizbul Mujahideen had warned all Kashmiri residents working as SPOs to tender their resignations.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Swayam Prakash Pani termed the incident cowardice and said “the militants are desperate as they are feeling the heat from security forces”.
“We have lost three of our brave colleagues in a barbaric terror strike. Our tribute to the three martyred jawans. We will soon bring all the culprits before law,” he added.
The three policemen were kidnapped early Friday morning from their homes at Batagund and Kapran villages, police said.
The residents of Batagund village chased the terrorists and pleaded with them to not abduct the men. The abductors fired shots in the air and threatened the villagers, officials said.
The terrorists crossed a river in the area and shot them dead, the officials added.
A post on a Twitter handle purportedly belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen group claimed responsibility for the incident. Security agencies also believe that Hizb militants are behind the killings.
The abduction of the policemen from their homes and the killing is the first in the three decades of militancy in the state. Earlier, policemen have been targeted on the road or during their duties.
The killings are believed to have triggered panic in the lower ranks of the police department with at least six policemen resigning. Two of them issued video messages dissociating themselves from the force.
“My name is Irshad Ahmad Baba and I was working as a constable in the police. I have rendered my resignation…,” said one of them in a video being widely circulated on social media here.
Tajalla Hussain Lone, an SPO, said he had resigned from the police department September 17 and was issuing the video to put to rest any doubts that he had done so.
The SPOs are engaged in counter-terrorism operations on a meagre remuneration of Rs 6,000 a month. There are around 36,000 SPOs in the state. They are given uniform but, unlike other policemen, not all of them are issued weapons.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo has several times warned local policemen, especially SPOs, to resign from the force, saying that the government is using them.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said: “Three more policemen have lost their lives to militant bullets. 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.
“Clearly, with the rise in kidnapping of police personnel and their families, the Centre’s muscular policy is not working at all. Dialogue, the only way forward, seems to be a distant dream for now,” she tweeted.
The policemen were abducted nearly three weeks after terrorists abducted relatives of policemen from various places in south Kashmir August 30. The relatives were later released.
At least eight people whose relatives worked in Jammu and Kashmir Police were abducted.
Naikoo had purportedly claimed responsibility for the abductions in a 12-minute video, issuing a three-day deadline for the release of all relatives of terrorists who were in police custody.
The latest round of killings comes soon after elections to panchayats and urban local bodies were announced.
RESIGNATIONS DENIED
The Jammu and Kashmir Police denied reports of resignations by policemen in the aftermath of the abduction and killing of the three policemen..
A police statement said that the videos uploaded on the social media showing special police officers (SPOs) claiming to have quit were motivated.
“Services of SPOs are reviewed from time to time and based on these reviews some SPOs are disengaged. The videos uploaded on the social media are motivated,” the statement said.
“There have been no resignations by policemen after the killing of three SPOs by the terrorists,” it said.
But the Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued an advisory to all policemen on leave in south Kashmir to report for duty immediately.
The advisory also directs policemen not to visit their homes till further orders.