Seen to be ‘reprisals’ for arrest of kin of militants by security forces

Militants raided several houses of policemen in south Kashmir on Thursday night and kidnapped seven persons, including policemen and their relatives.

The incident occurred on a day when security forces arrested 11 persons, mainly relatives of active militants in south Kashmir, including Hizbul Mujahideen ‘operational commander’ Riyaz Naikoo’s father from Awantipora. It also follows the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen ‘supremo’ Syed Salahuddin’s elder son by the National Investigation Agency in the 2011 money laundering case.

Two non-local recruits of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in an operation on Thursday.

A top police official confirmed to The Hindu that militants later raided houses in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama.

“We are investigating these raids. Details are sketchy. Four to seven persons have been kidnapped,” said the police official.

Police sources said brothers of two policemen, identified as Inspector Nazir Ahmad and Mehmad Ahmad in Anantnag’s Arwani were kidnapped from their residences in militant raids.

Also Read Kashmir Valley shuts down ahead of Supreme Court hearing on special status

A pro-militant online account claimed that militants have kidnapped the son of policeman Mohammad Maqbool Bhat of Arawani, brother of SHO Nazir Ahmad Sankar of Bijbehara, policeman Bashir Ahmad Makro from Kulgam’s Kharpora and son of Abdul Salam Rather from Yamrach Yaripora of Kulgam. An unconfirmed report suggests the brother of a deputy superintendent of police was also kidnapped in south Kashmir.

Militants kidnapped Asif Rather, the son of a policeman, three days ago.

Meanwhile security was tightened in the Kashmir Valley amid a shutdown call, on the eve of the Supreme Court hearing petitions challenging Article 35A, which defines State subject laws.

The J&K government will again seek its deferment in view of the upcoming polls.