No policeman has quit after 3 cops killed by Hizbul terrorists in J&K's Shopian, MHA says

The incident comes days after an audio clip was sent by Hizbul terrorists threatening and saying that SPO’s should resign from their jobs, else will have to face repercussions.

Representational Picture (AFP)

Srinagar: Three SPOs and one Police Constable's brother belonging to Jammu and Kashmir police had gone missing in Shopian district recently. All three SPOs were later found dead, with bullet-ridden bodies after a search operation was launched to find them. The SPOs killed by terrorists have been identified as Firdous Ahmed Kucchay, Kulwant Singh and Nisar Ahmed Dhobi. The bodies were recovered from an orchard in Wangam area. Fayaz Ahmed Bhat who is the brother of police constable was, however, released by terrorists. ABP News has learned that at least six to seven terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba were involved in the dastardly act. The incident comes days after an audio clip was sent by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists threatening to kill policemen unless they posted their resignations on social media. According to news agency PTI. the local police said the residents of Batagund village had chased the terrorists and urged them not to abduct the policemen, but the militants fired a few shots in the air and threatened the villagers. They said the terrorists crossed a river in the area and shot dead the policemen. Nissar Ahmed was working with the armed police, Firdous Ahmed, who was under process of being converted to constable, served in the Railways. Kulwant Singh was posted with Kulgam police. The terrorists had also kidnapped the brother of a police constable but he was released later. A Twitter handle purportedly belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and killing. Soon after the incident, reports surfaced that four other SPOs, fearing for lives, have resigned from their posts and posted videos on social media informing about it. However, the Home Ministry has rubbished such claims saying no policeman has resigned in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of three police personnel by Hizbul Mujahideen. The Home Ministry said Jammu and Kashmir has a professional and committed police force, which is fully geared up to meet the security challenges, including those related to the forthcoming panchayat and urban body elections. The terrorists have been adopting the same method in the past to dissuade police officials and Army jawans from working against them. Very recently, terrorists had kidnapped 9 soldiers in North Kashmir; who were later rescued safely. In a similar incident, the terrorists had abducted and later murdered Army Lieutenant Umar Faiyaz last year in May. The 22-year-old jawan had come back to his house to attend a wedding. Even this year June, Army soldier Aurangzeb was abducted and later killed. The terrorists had also released a video of torture they made the soldier go through.

Jammu & Kashmir: Three policemen who were kidnapped by terrorists in south Kashmir's Shopian, found dead. pic.twitter.com/OV9xwHrDBn

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2018

Terrorists have been threatening policemen and soldiers of Kashmiri origin especially in the southern part of the state to give up job or face consequences.