3 Cops Abducted, Killed In Shopian; 47 SPOs, Policemen Announce Resignation, Home Ministry Rejects

Srinagar: Three policemen were abducted and killed while a relative of one of the slain cops was set free after abduction in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on early Friday.

A police officer said militants abducted three cops from Batgund and Kapren Shopian early on Friday and “later killed them brutally in an inhuman act.”

The slain cops were identified as Nisar Ahmad Dhobi son of Abdul Rashid resident of Kapren, Shopian, Firdous Kuchay son of Abdul Gani and Kulwant Singh son of Dhoop Singh, both residents of Batagund, Shopian.

“Bodies of all the three cops were retrieved by police.”  Later a wreath-laying ceremony was held at DPL Shopian.

Floral tributes were paid to the policemen by civil and police officers led by IGP Kashmir and paid rich tributes to the slain cops.

Among others, DIG SKR, SSP Shopian, SSP Awantipora, SSP Kulgam, SSP Pulwama and other officers and personnel were present, police said.

“Preliminary investigation reveals the complicity of proscribed outfits HM & LeT in this barbaric act. Further investigation is going on to identify the culprits in the crime,” the spokesperson said.

Along with Dhobi, militants also abducted his relative, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who was later set free by the gunmen, official sources said.

Following the killing, official sources said 45 SPOs and two constables announced resignation on social media.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said no policeman has resigned in the wake of the killing of three police personnel.

“Reports have appeared in a section of media that some special police officers (SPOs) in Jammu and Kashmir have resigned, but the state police force has confirmed that these reports are “untrue and motivated”, the ministry said in a statement.

“These reports are based on false propaganda by mischievous elements,” it added. (GNS)