All 11 abducted kin of J&K policemen released after Hizb militant's father freed (Roundup)

The three-day face-off between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir ended on Friday as police released a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander's father and militants freed all 11 relatives of policemen they had abducted in retaliation.

All 11 family members of policemen abducted in three days from south Kashmir were released unharmed on Friday, police said, hours after Hizbul operational commander Riyaz Naikoo's father Assadullah Naikoo was freed by the police.

Riyaz Naikoo said on the social media that the police had "compelled" the militants to act against the families of policemen because a non-combatant relative of a militant had been arrested by them.

Authorities on Thursday confirmed that eight relatives of policemen were abducted from south Kashmir areas. Three more relatives of policemen were abducted on Friday.

Those abducted on Thursday evening were Zubair Ahmad, son of a policeman from Arwani area of Kulgam district; Arif Ahmed, brother of a middle-rung police officer from Arwani; Faizan Ahmad, son of a policeman from Kharpora, Kulgam; Sumeer Ahmad Rather, son of a policeman from Yaripora, Kulgam; and Gowhar Ahmad, brother of a Deputy Superintendent of Police from Katapora, Kulgam.

Earlier on Thursday, militants abducted Nasir Ahmad, son of a policeman from Midoora Tral.

Militants had on Wednesday abducted Asif Ahmad, son of a local policeman Rafiq Ahmad Rather, from Pinglish village of Tral in Pulwama district.

Authorities had on Thursday decided to launch a massive operation in south Kashmir areas to check the alarming trend of abduction of relatives of police personnel, but the decision was put on hold due to fears that the abducted persons could be harmed in case of a large-scale operation.

A high-level meeting was held by top brass of security forces on Thursday evening where it was decided that for the safety of the abducted persons, it was necessary to release Assadullah Naikoo.

--IANS

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