DON’T GO BACK HOME, OFFICIALS TELL COPS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir administration is telling policemen and Special Police Officers in South Kashmir, which is seeing a wave of attacks against both, to not visit their families or homes.

The advisory comes in the wake of the killings of three policemen, including an SPO, on Friday, and unconfirmed resignations of several others following a warning on Wednesday by Hizbul Mujahedeen commander Riyaz Naikoo. The killings were in part responsible for India reconsidering its decision to agree to a meeting of the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York later this month.

SPOS, whose main role is in gathering intelligence, and local policemen are soft targets because they do not live in fortified camps like the ones housing members of the army and the Central Reserve Police Force.

On Friday , selection grade constable Nisar Ahmad, SPO Kuldeep Singh and follower, Firdous Kuchay were abducted by militants from Batagund and Kaparan villages early in the morning and killed within hours. Two other policemen in the same villages escaped because they weren’t home when the militants came visiting.

In the past too, there have been occasional advisories asking officers of the J&K police who reside in sensitive areas of south Kashmir to avoid visiting their homes.