Targeted, many policemen plan to ‘leave’
COPS ARE VULNERABLE TO THESE ATTACKS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH KASHMIR; GOVT IS STILL THINKING HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS, SAY POLICE
SRINAGAR: The killing of three policemen, including an SPO, came two days after Hizbul Mujahedeen operational commander released an eight minute-long audio clip asking Special Police Officers (SPOs) and policemen not only to resign from their jobs, but to also keep their resignation letters at homes for the safety of their lives.
Naikoo, who is one of the most prominent commanders of south Kashmir, also termed the audio as the last warning for the cops and said India is using them. And just two days after issuing the warning, militants killed three cops (two constables and one SPO) at Kaparan and Batgund villages in Shopian within hours of their abduction on Friday.
Militants have so far killed 37 cops this year and many of them were killed when they were not on duty. Militants have been constantly targeting SPOs and local cops as they believe that many of them are responsible for the killing of militants, especially in south Kashmir where frequent militant killings take place during cordon and search operations launched on specific inputs.
A large number of people from the four districts of south Kashmir who had joined the police force, work as constables and SPOs.
A senior police officer said after the abductions and killings, there has been a fear among SPOs and policemen. “They are vulnerable to these attacks, especially in south Kashmir. The government is still thinking how to deal with this and there is no proper strategy to tackle this so far,’’ he said.
However, another officer said SPOs and policemen many a times do not take proper precautions, especially in south Kashmir. “Since the cops and SPOs are locals, they think they are just doing their jobs which has not harmed anybody and they become soft targets.”
The audio released by Naikoo on Wednesday had not only scared the policemen but also the political workers who were contemplating to participate in the upcoming ULB elections despite militant threats of staying away from the elections.
Hours after these killings, several video messages emerged on social media that purportedly show SPOs announcing their decision to resign. J&K director general of police, Dilbagh Singh, termed it as a rumour and propaganda by the ultras and their sympathisers, he said there are many welfare schemes and incentives for SPOs in the offing. “It is more of a rumour, and if there are resignations it will be looked into.”
HOME MINISTRY REBUTS THE CLAIMS
Meanwhile, the Union home ministry also rebutted the claims. “J&K Police have confirmed that these reports are untrue and are based on false propaganda by mischievous elements,” the home ministry said.
In one of the videos, the person identifies himself as Shabir Ahmad Thokar of Samnoo in south Kashmir, who says that he has been working as an SPO for the last eight years, but has now decided to disassociate himself from the force. In another video a person who identifies himself as Irshad Ahmad Baba of Daigam Shopian says he was working as a police constable. “From today, I am not associated with police as I have resigned from my job,” he says in the video.
Another SPO, Umar Bashir Negroo, a resident of Kapran where one cop was killed by militants on Friday posted his resignation letter on the social media along with his picture.
In the past three months, the militants have been frequently targeting the SPOs in south Kashmir. Last month, more than a dozen SPOs resigned in Tral area after militants asked them to do so. On August 30, ultras had abducted 11 family members of cops and had demanded release of the relatives of militants in police custody. It was only after the release of militants’ relatives, they were set free unharmed.